Comparison of the biotechnological potential of marine and terrestrial species of two orders of Sordariomycete fungi

Authors: LEDO DOVAL, RAQUEL - Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute; MULLER, ASTRID - Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute; Brown, Daren; JOHNSON, DEREK - Oregon State University; QUANDT, C - Colorado State University; BARRY, KERRY - Department Of Energy Joint Genome; CLUM, ALICIA - Department Of Energy Joint Genome; HUNDLEY, HOPE - Department Of Energy Joint Genome; LABUTTI, KURT - Department Of Energy Joint Genome; LIPZEN, ANNA - Department Of Energy Joint Genome

Submitted to: Marine Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2025
Publication Date: 6/25/2025
Citation: Ledo Doval, R., Muller, A., Brown, D.W., Johnson, D., Quandt, C.A., Barry, K., Clum, A., Hundley, H., Labutti, K., Lipzen, A. 2025. Comparison of the biotechnological potential of marine and terrestrial species of two orders of Sordariomycete fungi. Marine Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-025-10484-3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-025-10484-3

Interpretive Summary: Understanding how marine and terrestrial fungi successfully break down plant cell walls specific to their environment of origin could help plant pathologists and farmers develop new tools to control crop pathogens. To evaluate these differences, we analyzed the genome sequence of three marine and two terrestrial fungi as well as one fungus found in both environments, and compared how these six fungi grew on different carbon sources. The genes involved in breaking down plant cell walls for food and the gene involved in the synthesis of small chemicals were compared. We found that although some genes were specific to each group of fungi, the differences were minor. We also found that all the fungi were able to grow on both terrestrial and marine plants. Knowledge of how fungi consume different plant materials as well as the small chemicals they could synthesize will be of use to plant pathologists and other scientists to develop novel strategies to limit fungal diseases of terrestrial plants and stop toxic chemicals from contaminating our grain and ensure a safe food supply.

Technical Abstract: Marine fungi have been receiving increasing interest, especially with respect to their potential for biotechnological applications. Carbon sources in marine environments, such as seaweeds, have cell walls that are structurally different from the cell walls of terrestrial plants, which implies that marine fungi likely possess a modified set of extracellular enzymes to enable them to use these marine substrates as carbon and energy source. In addition, marine fungi have been implicated as good sources of secondary metabolites with bioactive functions, as e.g., drugs or antibiotics. To evaluate if marine fungi have genomic signatures that distinguish them from terrestrial fungi with respect to biotechnological potential, we genome-sequenced three fungal species from the marine environment (Varicosporina prolifera, Corollospora maritima, Emericellopsis maritima), two from terrestrial environments (Clonostachys rosea, Stanjemonium grisellum) and one that is found in both terrestrial and marine environments (Microascus triganosporus), originating from two orders (Microascales, Hypocreales) of the Sordariomycetes, and compared them to a related terrestrial (Microascus stellatus, previously known as Thermomyces stellatus) and marine species (Emericellopsis atlantica). We then compared their CAZy and secondary metabolism content and their ability to use terrestrial and marine biomass as carbon sources. This revealed that despite the presence of some genes specific to marine fungi, no general genomic or growth phenotypes can be identified to distinguish marine and terrestrial fungi, suggesting that all have maintained the ability to use both marine and terrestrial carbon sources.