FT-IR Analysis of Fusarium oxysporum Grown Myco-Composite

Present study was focused on obtaining a novel biocomposite obtained from a plant pathogenic strain, Fusarium oxysporum¸on wastes from renewable sources, and assessment of microbial development on both the substrate surface and inside the aerial structure, by FT-IR analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was successfully used for recording of infrared spectra specific to various components of microbial biomass of Fusarium oxysporum, grown on an alternative substrate composed of recycled shredded paper and worn coffee. FT-IR analysis allowed highlighting of various functional groups, specific of constituents of microbial biofilm and hyphae: C–H asymmetric and symmetric stretching of CH, –CH2, and –CH3 highlighted at 2923 and 2857cm-1 which were indicators of the microbial cell fatty acids component, C=O stretching at 1631cm-1 of amide I of protein β-turns, N–H and C–N stretching at 1542cm-1 of amide II from α-helix of proteins, polysaccharide components, as a major constituent of the fungal biofilm, was confirmed by FT-IR bands at 1380cm-1, 1195cm-1 and 1029.8 cm−1. The verso side of the composite showed similar absorption values as the paper, but with higher intensity peaks, which indicated substrate degradation. Therefore, FT-IR analysis made possible the assessment of existence in the developed biocomposite of various biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, polysaccharides.