Abstract:
Halophilic fungi exist in hypersaline and polyhaline marine environments. Studies have shown their presence in the Dead Sea, Salt Lakes, solar salterns in different continents, as well as in deep-sea, estuary and mangroves. These have been found to belong to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. They develop a mechanism of osmo-adaptation to the lower water activity of their environment through internal accumulation of compatible solutes. They hold much biotechnological potential.