dc.contributor.advisor |
Villas-Bôas, S |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Lee, Alex Jungwook |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2015-07-26T21:36:23Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2015 |
en |
dc.identifier.citation |
2015 |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/26426 |
en |
dc.description |
Full text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
en |
dc.description.abstract |
Entoloma hochstetteri is the iconic deep-blue fungus of New Zealand. Its characteristic deep-blue coloured fruit body is a very attractive novel source of natural blue pigment, which is in great demand in current natural pigment markets. To explore the biotechnological potential of E. hochstetteri, a pure culture is required for experimentation and full physiological characterisation. However, this fungus has never been cultured and its natural environment is yet to be characterised. Pureora Forest Park was explored to characterise the natural habitat of our blue fungus. We located and collected samples in an attempt to isolate a pure culture in laboratory. Measurement and analysis of natural habitat of E. hochstetteri were carried out during two days of fungal sample collection. Conditions measured include moisture level and temperature of soil and headspace atmosphere, soil pH, and chemical composition of soil and compost. Informed by these parameters, we aimed to reproduce the same environment in the laboratory, which provided a starting point to attempt cultivation of the fungus. Isolation of E. hochstetteri was attempted with inner segments of fruit bodies, visible blue mycelia, and basidiospores of the fungus, which are all known to produce vegetative mycelia in other fungi. Eighteen different combinations of potential germination inducers were applied to the spores before and during incubation. All fungal samples were inoculated onto 18 different culture media conditions. Throughout 10 months of incubation, 26 distinct fungal isolates were obtained. The ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 rDNA sequences of these fungal isolates were used for full identification and comparison against the rDNA sequence of E. hochstetteri, which was obtained from its fruit body. Unfortunately, none of the rDNA sequences obtained from the fungal isolates matched the E. hochstetteri sequence, although 5 matched other Basidiomycota. Although disappointing, we were aware of the big challenge in attempting the isolation of E. hochstetteri as it has been poorly studied even at genus level, and there is very few Entoloma reportedly cultured in laboratory conditions. Nonetheless, we believe the information obtained from this research is valuable and will undoubtedly be critical in isolation, cultivation, and finding biotechnology applications for Entoloma hochstetteri in the near future. The fungal isolates obtained during this research could also be exploited for their biotechnological potential as they may play a crucial role in cultivation of E. hochstetteri through commensal relationship. |
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dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
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dc.relation.ispartof |
Masters Thesis - University of Auckland |
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dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA99264800212002091 |
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dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. |
en |
dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland. |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.title |
Entoloma hochstetteri: An attempt to isolate the ‘unculturable’ in pure culture |
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dc.type |
Thesis |
en |
thesis.degree.discipline |
Biological Sciences |
en |
thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
en |
thesis.degree.level |
Masters |
en |
dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The Author |
en |
pubs.elements-id |
492267 |
en |
pubs.record-created-at-source-date |
2015-07-27 |
en |
dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112909575 |
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