SCREENING OF AQUATIC FUNGI FOR ANTIMICROBIAL AND AMYLASE EFFICACY ISOLATED FROM FISH CULTURING PONDS OF SOUTH-EAST COASTAL ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

Objectives: The main intention of the current study was to isolate, antimicrobial assay and amylase screening of fungal strains SAPB-15 and SAPB-20 isolated from freshwater fish culturing ponds of Kaikaluru and Mudinepalli villages, South-East coast of Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods: The water samples were collected from different fish culturing aquatic ponds and transported to the laboratory. A serial dilution plate technique was employed for fungi isolation by using Czapek-Dox agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar media. Twenty fungal strains were isolated, all of them were screened for their antimicrobial and amylase production. The potential fungal strains were designated as SAPB-15 and SAPB-20. Partial characterization of the strains was carried out based on cultural, micro-morphological characteristics. Results: The potent fungal strains were provisionally identified as Penicillium species and Aspergillus species. The secondary metabolites produced by strains inhibited several test bacteria and fungi and the strains also exhibited a positive response to amylase production. Conclusion: Aquatic ponds are treasure houses for potential microbes. Among the twenty fungal strains, SAPB-15 and SAPB-20 were found to possess antimicrobial potential, and genuses of the strains were identified as Penicillium and Aspergillus.