*2.2. Morphological and Biochemical Characteristics*

Gram staining was performed by the Hucker method [14]. Morphological characteristics were observed by light microscopy (Nikon ECLIPSE E200, Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and scanning electron microscopy (Hitachi SU8010, Hitachi Co., Tokyo, Japan) using cultures grown on ISP 3 agar at 28 ◦C for 2 weeks. Samples for scanning electron microscopy were prepared as described by Jin et al. [15]. Cultural characteristics were determined on the ISP media 1–7 [13], Bennett's agar [16], Czapek's agar [17], and Nutrient agar [18] after 2 weeks at 28 ◦C. The color of substrate mycelium, aerial mycelium, and diffusible pigment on the different tested media were determined using color chips from the ISCC-NBS color charts [19]. Temperature tolerance for growth was evaluated at 4, 10, 15, 20, 25, 28, 35, 37, 40, and 45 ◦C on ISP 3 agar after incubation for 2 weeks. The pH range for growth (pH 3.0–12.0, at intervals of 1.0 pH unit) was tested in GY broth [20] using the buffer system described by Zhao et al. [21] and NaCl tolerance (0%–15% (*w*/*v*) in 1% intervals) for growth was determined after 2 weeks growth in GY broth at 28 ◦C with shaking at 250 rpm. Hydrolysis of Tweens (20, 40, and 80) and production of urease were tested according to the method of Smibert and Krieg [14]. The utilization of sole carbon and nitrogen sources were determined following the methods of Gordon et al. [22]. The decomposition of cellulose, hydrolysis of starch, coagulation of milk, aesculin, reduction of nitrate, liquefaction of gelatin, and production of H2S were examined as described previously [23].
