Biotechnological Potential of the Fusarium fujikuroi Complex From Amazonian Oenocarpus bacaba: Lipase Production and Characterization

Abstract

This study investigates the diversity of filamentous fungi in the Amazon biome, particularly the genus Fusarium, known for producing biotechnologically valuable metabolites. The research aimed to isolate and identify fungi from Oenocarpus bacaba Mart. fruits and analyze the biochemical properties of lipase produced by the strains (maximum activity of 1750 U mL⁻¹). Two isolates, FF1 and FF2, were identified using morphological and molecular techniques, with ITS sequence data suggesting they belong to the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex, though the exact species remains unconfirmed. This is the first report that highlights the biotechnological potential of the F. fujikuroi complex isolated from Oenocarpus bacaba, emphasizing the relevance of Amazonian biodiversity as a source of microorganisms with promising applications in sustainable industrial processes. The results show that native fruits, such as bacaba, are effective matrices for prospecting filamentous fungi producers of enzymes of biotechnological interest, such as lipases. These findings reinforce the importance of rational exploitation of the Amazonian microbiota for the development of bioproducts and eco-efficient industrial processes.