STUDIES ON MELANIN PIGMENT PRODUCED BY PHAEOSPHAERIOPSIS MUSAE ISOLATED FROM SALINE WATER OF LONAR LAKE IN WEST VIDARBHA REGION

Kshitija R. Deshmukh* and Archana S. Pethe

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to isolate a fungus producing melanin pigment, its morphological, biochemical and molecular identification, studying effects of parameters like ph and temperature on the isolate and its melanin producing ability, extraction of melanin pigment from the isolate, chemical characterization of the melanin pigment and performing analytical techniques to confirm the pigment as melanin. A fungus producing melanin pigment was isolated from a saline water sample of lonar lake using potato dextrose agar medium enriched with L-tyrosine amino acid. It was identified as Phaeosphaeriopsis musae using molecular technique of partial internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region analysis. It was found to survive at pH-3 and produce melanin at pH-5 to 8 but could only grow and produce melanin at 30°C. The extracted crude melanin pigment was water soluble and techniques like Ultraviolet-Visible spectrum analysis and Fourier Transmission Infra-red spectrum analysis proved that the pigment extract is melanin.

Keywords: melanin producing fungus, Phaeosphaeriopsis musae, saline water, lonar lake.