Abstract
In the present study, the ability of eighteen white-rot basidiomycetes was evaluated for crude oil biodegradation. Cerrena unicolor strains, Panus tigrinus 433, P. lecometei 903, Pleurotus ostreatus 70, Trametes maxima 403, and T. versicolor 159 showed especially abundant mycelial growth on the surface of agar covered with droplets of crude oil. In the submerged cultivation in the glucose (3 g/L) containing medium, complete decolorization of indicator Resazurin was observed during two weeks in the presence of Bjerkandera adusta 139, C. unicolor 303, Coriolopsis gallica 142, P. ostreatus 70, P. pulmonarius 148, and T. versicolor 159. When artificially oil-polluted soil was inoculated with fungal mycelium pre-grown on a mixture of wheat straw and mandarin peels the maximum degradation rate (65%) was obtained when C. unicolor 305 was incubated in the 1% oil-containing soil for 28 days. At the same cultivation conditions, P. ostreatus 2175 eliminated 43.9% of initial oil when its concentration in the soil was increased to 2%. In the lignocellulose-containing soil, neither glucose nor yeast extract enhanced oil degradation, but wetting of soil with the distilled water to maintain its humidity favored oil elimination. The tested WRB secreted lignin-modifying enzymes in the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons; the higher was the concentration of lignocellulosic substrate in the soil the higher was the fungi enzyme activity. However, the data received did not show any direct relationship between the fungi enzyme activity and the degree of oil elimination. Key words: mycoremediation, crude oil, basidiomycetes, cultivation conditions, lignin-modifying enzymes
Highlights
Intensive industrial and agricultural activity during the last century led to considerable contamination of soil and water with toxic organic pollutants having detrimental effects on the health of humans, animals, plants, and microbes
C. unicolor strains, P. tigrinus 433, P. lecometei 903, P. ostreatus 70, T. maxima 403, T. versicolor 159 showed especially abundant mycelial growth on the surface of agar covered with droplets of crude oil
Concerning crude oil elimination, C. gallica 142 and P. tigrinus 433 (Fig. 1) as well as P. lecometei 903, P. ostreatus 70, L. betulina 141, C. unicolor 303 appeared to be most active in this process
Summary
Intensive industrial and agricultural activity during the last century led to considerable contamination of soil and water with toxic organic pollutants having detrimental effects on the health of humans, animals, plants, and microbes. Bioremediation of the contaminated soils and effluents through exploitation of white rot basidiomycetes (WRB) potential is seen as a promising, environment friendly approach [4-6] Compared to bacteria, these fungi possess required morphological and biochemical capacity to degrade a wide range of organic chemicals and use them as a growth substrate. Besides an ability of WRB to form extended mycelial networks and secrete hydrolytic enzymes to digest lignocellulosic growth substrates in their surroundings, these fungi possess the unique lignin-modifying enzymes (LME) including laccase, manganese peroxidase (MnP), versatile peroxidase (VP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP) having a broad substrate specificity [4-7] Synergistic action of these and intracellular enzymes, in particular, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases make WRB well suited for degradation of high molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and bioremediation processes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
