Antarctic Fungi as Producers of Pigments

Abstract

Fungi derived from Antarctic ecological niches are a focus of interest due to their extremophilic adaptability. Antarctic pigmented fungi have been isolated from samples such as lichens, mosses, rhizosphere soil of Deschampsia antarctica, sedimentary rocks, snow, soil, water, and zooplankton and are shown to be promising in the production of pigments ranging from yellow, orange, and red (carotenoid) to black (melanin). The main pigment-producing yeasts belong to the phylum Basidiomycota, represented by Dioszegia, Sporobolomyces, and Cystofilobasidium. In contrast, Thelebolus and Arthrobotrys are also reported as filamentous fungi pigment producers. Among the most frequently reported biological activities of these fungi, photoprotection, antioxidant activity, and resistance to stress can be highlighted. Therefore, the Antarctic environment offers an opportunity to search for pigmented organisms that can possibly survive harsh conditions and environmental pressure. Considering the biotechnological relevance of these extremophiles, we have summarized the current understanding of Antarctic fungal pigments and their biological applications in this review.