[Screening of Mannane-Degrading Enzymes Producers].

The aim of research was to investigate the prevalence of complex mannan-degrading enzymes among museum and freshly isolated cultures of micromycetes, actinobacteria and bacteria. It has been shown that the producers of ß-mannanases mostly extracted from sources that are rich in plant residues. We detected strains of Penicillium aculeatum, P. tardum and P. rugulosum which produce a complex of ß-mannanases and α-galactosidase activity. Also, strains of thermophilic micromycetes species Corynascus sepedonium, Scytalidium thermophilum and Rhizomucor tauricus with high mannanase activity in culture liquid were detected (10 ­ 130 U/ml). Two strains of P. aculeatum and P. tardum showed ß-mannanase, ß-mannosidase and α-galactosidase activity. Actinobacteria was shown high potential, 70 % of all tested strains showed mannanase activity; their activity ranged from 2 to 55 U/ml. Among the most active bacterial cultures were representatives of soil microflora: Bacillus circulans, B. subtilis, B. mesentericus, where as among the strains isolated from sea water the active mannanases producers were not found.

[Cellulase and Xylanase Activities of Endophytic and Soil Penicillium funiculosum Strains].

Aim: To carry out a comparative study of cellulase and xylanase activities of 16 endophytic and soil Penicillium funiculosum strains. Methods: The objects of the study were 16 endophytic and soil P. funiculosum strains from culture collection of microscopic fungi of Department of Physiology and Taxonomy of Micromycetes of D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology of NASU. Cellulase and xylanase activities were determined by enzyme activity zone on solid agar media with soluble cellulose (Na-CMC) and hemicellulose (xylan) and by enzymatic index (EІ). Results: All investigated P. funiculosum strains, regardless of the isolation place, can hydrolyze Na-CMC and beech xylan. Enzymatic index was studied to characterize cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities of P. funiculosum strains from different econiches for the frst time. It was established that cellulase activity of endophytic P. funiculosum strains was medium and soil ones ­ from low to high. Endophytic strains showed low and medium xylanase activity, while the soil strains had only high activity. Conclusions: It was established that endophytic and soil P. funiculosum strains were able to hydrolyze Na-CMC and beech xylan, while endophytes characterized by medium cellulase activity, and soil strains had from low to high level of this activity. Xylanase activity of endophytes was low, but soil isolates ­ only high one. Obtained experimental data might be the basis for explaining of endophytic life style of P. funiculosum in the plant, as well as in screening of producers of hydrolytic enzyme complexes for biotechnological purposes.

[THE SPECIES COMPOSITION OF MICROMYCETES ISOLATED FROM PLASTERBOARD].

AIM: To investigate the mycobiota of usual and water-resistant plasterboard of two types and to represent its ecological characteristic. METHODS: Microscopic fungi were iso- lated using the method of modeling effects of humid air and water on the plasterboard, and methods of serial dilutions and direct inoculation on agar nutrient media. Analysis of mycobiota of different types of plasterboard was conducted using the methods of quan- titative ecology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: For the first time the mycobiota of usual and water-resistant plasterboard was characterized and compared. Simulation results of the modeling effects on plasterboard moist air and water directly, it was established that the species of genera Aspergillus; Chaetomium, Dicyma, Penicillium grew under the action of high relative humidity (above 90 %). The direct effect of water promoted the growth of Alternaria, Cladosporium and Stachybotrys. The highest similarity of mycobiota was conducted for samples of plasterboard produced in 2010. The highest species diversity of microscopic fungi was established for plasterboard 2010, what was twice as high as the usual 2005; the total number of species was also three times more. More than 50 species of micromycetes were isolated from the surface of plasterboard and gypsum, among them A. flavipes, C. globosum, D. aurea, T viride often occurred on cardboard and A. chla- mydosopra, A. infectoria, C. cladosporioides, S. chartarum - in the gypsum core.

[THE MYCOBIOTA IN STUDYING THE RESISTANCE OF GYPSUM PLASTERBOARD TO MICROSCOPIC FUNGI].

The resistance of two types of gypsum plasterboard: ordinary and water-resistant to microscopic fungi was studied. It was found that under conditions of high relative humidity and direct influence of water at constant temperature (29 ± 2) degrees C all samples of plasterboard were not resistant to fungi. Furthermore, the contaminating mycobiota of uninfected fragments of plasterboard was revealed under these conditions. It was discovered that the test cultures Aspergillus terreus and Trichoderma viride were the most active at the stage of developed mycelium.

[Microscopic fungi in the air of film documents depositories].

Microscopic fungi of the studied 5 film documents depositories in Kyiv are presented by 14 species of 8 genera of the division Ascomycota (Chaetomium sp.) and the group Anamorphic fungi (13 species 7 genera). Among the isolated species there are generally accepted active destructors of various products and materials, in particular of a cine-film (A. niger, A. versicolor, representatives of genus Penicillium) and species which are potentially dangerous for the human health (A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. versicolor, Geotrichum candidum, P. expansum, Stachybotrys chartarum). The species A. fumigatus, Chaetomium sp., Cladosporium oxysporum have been identified in the air of film depositories for the first time. An individual approach to identifying species-indicators of microbiological quality of the air in film documents depositories is proposed and discussed.

[Species specificity of fungi isolated from the affected rubber tires and their components].

The mycobiota of the rubber technical wares, containing different plasticizers (natural and synthetic) have been investigated. Violation of production technology and storage conditions of the staggered rubber tires, caused their deterioration by the microfungi. Twenty seven (27) species of micromycetes, related to 16 genera were isolated from the surface and internal layers of such objects and their components. A number of species, which can exist theoretically on investigated rubber tires and their components, is calculated. The unfavorableness of the existence conditions for majority of fungi on such substrates is proved. The groups of species, which make the most contribution to deterioration of rubber tires and their components were revealed. These data were obtained using the methods of floristic analysis and computer processing of the data.

[Effect of heavy metal ions on the soil mycobiota in Kryvyi Rih region].

Ecological-taxonomic analysis of mycobiota from heavy metal polluted soils in Kryvyi Rig town and its residential suburbs are presented in this study The mycobiota consists of45 filamentous species (127 strains) belonging to 28 genera from 3 divisions. Among them Myrothecium leucotrichum was described as a new species for Ukrainian mycobiota while Absidia cylindrospora and Gongronella butleri as rare species. Paecilomyces lilacinus and P. marquandii dominated in the soils near the factory Kryvorizhstal and South Ore Mining and Processing Enterprises. In these soils, Mycelia sterilia (white and dark) and dark-colored micromycetes occurred with a high frequency (up to 30%). Results obtained allow us to conlude that ecological conditions in Kryvyi Rig town are unfavourable.

Endoglucanase-producing micromycetes capable of plant wastes degrading.

The screening study of endoglucanase producers among 58 strains 28 species 12 genera of mesophilous and thermotolerant micromycetes has been performed. Approximately 20% of investigated strains of micromycetes showed the highest endoglucanase activities (hydrolysis rates reached 0.40-0.57) during their submerged cultivation with different cellulose-containing subsrates. Such plant wastes as rye straw, wheat bran, husk of sunflower seeds, leaves and stems of Zostera marina were optimal for fungal growth and high yields of endoglucanase. As a result, 15 strains of mesophilous and thermotolerant micromycetes with high endoglucanase activity were selected among fungi of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Corynascus genera.