Isolation, identification, and a statistical optimization of scleroglucan-producing Athelia rolfsii Did-2 strain isolated from infected Phaseolus vulgaris.

Athelia rolfsii Did-2 (OP600167) is a fungal strain that produces Scleroglucan, a non-ionic water-soluble biopolymer used in various industries. The study aimed to isolate and identify this fungal strain. Five fungal isolates from infected plants were tested, and strain Did-2 was selected as the highest producer (1.43 g/100 mL). The strain was identified using various international keys, including macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular studies. The partial sequence was deposited in GeneBank under the name Athelia rolfsii strain Did-2 18S ribosomal RNA gene with accession number OP600167. To maximize Scleroglucan yield, the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and the central composite design response surface method (RSM) were employed. The optimized medium resulted in a 2-fold improvement (2.651 g/100 mL) in Scleroglucan yield