Isolation and Identification of Penicillium citrinum Strain from the Leaves of Fragaria x ananassa Cultivated by Nutrient Film Technique

The study was carried out to identify the fungibiome associated with Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) leaves collected from an indoor hydroponics facility. Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) was used for the isolation of associated fungi. After 48 hours of incubation at 37 1 C several colonies of fungi were seen. The colonies of fungus ICT-HM-0011S were abundant and grew like pure culture on the SDA plate. The fungus ICT-HM-0011S was characterized and identified by a polyphasic approach based on its macroscopic, microscopic, MALDI-TOF MS, and ITS sequencing. Microscopic investigations revealed that the primary mycelial and spore arrangements resembled with Penicillium species. Studies using Bruker MALDI biotyper identification confirmed the genus of the isolate to be Penicillium. The ITS sequencing technique confirmed the isolate as a strain of Penicillium citrinum. From the results, it was inferred that the organism isolated from infected strawberry leaves was Penicillium citrinum. The occurrence of this organism is mainly due to the conditions maintained in the hydroponics facility. This is the first report that concluded the presence of P. citrinum in the strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) leaves. Based on abundance of this fungi on healthy leaves, we envisage further investigations of this indigenous fungus on strawberry leaves for its potential shielding role, water storage ability enhancement and growth supplement provider.