Biopigment Production by Fusarium oxysporum Strain SS2024 PP593456 Isolated from the Forest Region of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

The present study focuses on the isolation and characterization of Fusarium oxysporum strain from the forest region of Uttarakhand, India, and explores its potential to produce pigments under submerged conditions. Fungal isolates were obtained from soil samples collected from diverse forest ecosystems and identified through morphological and molecular techniques. Natural pigment synthesis was initiated following the isolation and identification of F. oxysporum from the soil sample. Subsequent dilution and pure culture techniques were employed to select a specific strain producing red pigment for further study. Molecular identification using the ITS region confirmed the fungal strain as Fusarium oxysporum. The production of red coloured pigment was achieved through submerged fermentation utilizing rice broth as a growth medium. Subsequent pigment extraction using ethyl acetate demonstrated the potential of F. oxysporum to produce natural colorants. This research contributes to the exploration of fungal biodiversity in forest ecosystems and underscores the potential of Fusarium oxysporum as a promising source of fungal pigments for various industrial sectors.