Diversity of Filamentous Fungi Isolated From Some Amylase and Alcohol-Producing Starters of India.

Filamentous fungi are important organisms in traditionally prepared amylase and alcohol-producing dry starters in India. We collected 40 diverse types of amylase and alcohol-producing starters from eight states in North East India viz. , , , , , , , and . The average fungal population was 4.9 × 10 cfu/g with an average of pH 5.3 and 10.7%, respectively. In the present study, 131 fungal isolates were isolated and characterized based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and were grouped into 44 representative fungal strains. Based on results of morphological characteristics and ITS gene sequencing, 44 fungal strains were grouped into three phyla represented by Ascomycota (48%), Mucoromycota (38%), and Basidiomycota (14%). Taxonomical keys to species level was illustrated on the basis of morphological characteristics and ITS gene sequencing, aligned to the fungal database of NCBI GenBank, which showed seven genera with 16 species represented by (20%), (11%), (11%), (11%), (7%), (7%), (5%), (5%), (5%) (5%), (2%), (2%), (2%), (2%), (2%), and (2%). The highest Shannon diversity index was recorded in of Sikkim (: 1.74) and the lowest in of Manipur (: 0.69). Fungal species present in these amylolytic starters are morphologically, ecologically and phylogenetically diverse and showed high diversity within the community.