Bioprospecting and characterization of filamentous fungi with

degradative activities of cellulose and phenols from native soil

Johnata H. Rodrigues1*, Mayara Scheffer2, Marcio Silva3

1
(Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa - Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação - CIPP
- Sala LP-116 - Av. Carlos Cavalcanti, 4748 - CEP 84030-900 – Uvaranas, Ponta Grossa - PR)
2,3
(Universidade Tecnológia Federal do Paraná - Av. Monteiro Lobato, s/n - CEP 84016-210 - Jardim
Carvalho, Ponta Grossa - PR)
*E-mail: jhenrodrigues@hotmail.com

Bioprospection of filamentous fungi with cellulase and phenols activities from a native soil in
Furna do Passo do Pupo 1, located in Ponta Grossa - Brazil were studied using soil dilution
plate. Fungi were isolated using solid selective culture media for cellulase containing
Manachini solution and supplemented with carboxymethylcellulose (CMCA) 0.5% (w/v). A
total of 10 fungal isolates were obtained with the selective method and identified by
molecular tools as belonging to Mucor genus. These strains are deposited at the Coleção de
Microrganismos de Interesse Industrial e Biotecnológico (CMIB) as part of the Coleção
Microbiológica da Rede Paranaense (CMRP). The selected isolates had the cellulase enzymatic
index (EI) and growth rates (GT) determined. A qualitative method was also performed to
evaluate the phenol oxidase activity using malt extract, tannic acid and agar, based on the
Bavendamm reaction. The results revealed that all isolates were characterized as good
cellulase-producers since all presented EI ≥ 2.0. However, only six strains (CMRP 3217, CRMP
3218, CRMP 3220, CRMP 3222, CRMP 3223 e CRMP 3224) showed positive results for the
phenol oxidase activity. The study suggests that the native soil, denominated as histosols,
from geological structures like the Furnas Formation provides good conditions to the
development of fungi species capable of degrade the plant cell structure basic constituents.

Keywords: Bioprospection; Filamentous fungi; Cellulase; Phenol oxidase.