Statistical Optimization of Exopolysaccharide and Biomass Production by Mangrove Fungi Fusarium equiseti ANP2 and its Potential Application as Bioemulsifier and Chelator.

The rationale of the study is to explore the bio functional industrial potential and optimized culture conditions of a Manno glucan heteropolysaccharide MF-1 (purified EPS fraction) produced by a newly discovered mangrove derived fungi Fusarium equiseti ANP2, isolated from the Krishna River delta mangrove sediments. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize fungal EPS and Biomass production, achieving a significant 1.4-fold increase to 6.94 g/L in EPS yield and a 2.1-fold increase in biomass production. RSM identified optimal levels of glucose, NH₄NO₃, NaCl, leucine, temperature, and pH, while minimizing the required glucose and nitrogen content compared to conventional methods. Notably, MF-1 exhibited promising emulsification potential (69.5% n-hexadecane emulsification), suggesting its prospective role as a novel emulsifier, particularly for n-hexadecane-based applications. Additionally, MF-1 also displayed a chelating activity for Fe⁺ ions, suggesting its applicability as a natural chelating agent. The current study optimized the EPS production using RSM design and explored its potential for industrial applications as emulsification and chelating properties of the purified EPS fraction. Future research could explore the structural modifications of the fungal EPS to enhance its functionalities and delve deeper into the mechanisms governing EPS and biomass for large-scale, sustainable industrial production.