Fungal symbionts of marine sponges from Rameswaram, southern India: species composition and bioactive metabolites

Abstract

Ten marine sponge species from Rameswaram, southern India were studied for their filamentous fungal symbionts. The results suggest that fungal symbionts of marine sponges are hyperdiverse. Genera such as Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium and Penicillium were frequently isolated; no true marine fungal species were present. Species of Aspergillus were dominant and co-dominant in all the sponges screened. The fungal isolates produced antialgal, antifungal, antioxidant, antibiotic, antiinsect metabolites. A few fungi produced acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.