Diversity, distribution and phytotoxic and anti-Trypanosoma activities of cultivable fungi associated with Magellan sub-Antarctic strait and Maritime Antarctic macroalgae.

We isolated and characterized the community of cultivable fungi associated with marine macroalgae present in the Magellan sub-Antarctic straits and the South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica, and evaluated their production of bioactive metabolites. A total of 201 filamentous fungal isolates were obtained. The genera Antarctomyces, Pseudogymnoascus, Microdochium, Trichoderma, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Neoascochyta, Entomortierella and Linnemannia were associated with Antarctic macroalgae, with Neoascochyta paspali being the most abundant taxon.