Fungal Genomics & Biology
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-8056
ISSN: 2165-8056
Department of Molecular Biology, Ariel University, Science Park, Ariel, Israel
Research Article
Fungal-Diatom Relationships on Floating Plastic Surfaces in the Mediterranean Sea
Author(s): Sheli Itzahri, Keren Davidov and Matan Oren*
Plastic debris in the ocean serves as a stable ground for the formation of a complex ecosystem, termed plastisphere,
which includes a variety of organisms from different taxonomic groups. Not much is known about the relationships
between the organisms of the plastisphere communities. In this study we describe a novel symbiotic-like interaction
between a marine fungus and several species of pennate diatoms on plastic surfaces that were submerged in the
water of a Mediterranean Sea marina in Israel. Scanning electron microscope images of the surfaces revealed a
network of fungal hyphae with multiple diatom cells attached to them via the side or the tip of their body. Using
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) metabarcoding for the fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) barcode locus, we
found that the diatom-bearing fungus belongs to the phylum Ascomycota.. View More»
DOI:
10.35248/2165-8056.24.14.237