Characterization of selected strains of mucorales using fatty acid profiles

ABSTRACT

The fatty acid profiles of several fungi of the order Mucorales (Zygomycetes), including "Backusella lamprospora" (Lendner) Benny and R. K. Benj., "Benjamiella youngii" P.M. Kirk, "Circinella simplex" van Tieghem, "Cunninghamella blakesleeana" Lendner, "Mortierella ramanniana" (Möller) Linnem., "Mucor circineloides" f. "janssenii" (Lendner) Schipper, "Mycotypha microspora"Fenner, "Rhizomucor miehei" (Cooney and R. Emerson) Schipper and "Rhizomucor pusillus"(Lindt) Schipper, and of "Volutella"sp. Fr., from the class Ascomycetes, were qualitatively analysed by gas-liquid chromatography in order to determine the taxonomic value of these chemotaxonomic markers. The fatty acids present in all strains were palmitic (160), oleic (181), linoleic (182) and kappa-linoleic (183) acid, with the exception that the later was not found in "Volutella" sp. Chemotaxonomic markers for some species and genera were obtained, including a non-identified fatty acid, FAME8 (minimum and maximum of 16.53 and 16.61 minutes) for "Benjaminiella youngii CCT4121. Thechemotaxonomic marker of the order Mucorales was the fatty acid 183ômega6, confirming previous data from literature. The results of the present study that qualitative fatty acid analysis can be an important chemotaxonomic tool for the classification of the fungi assigned to the order Mucorales (Zygomycetes).