Growth response and mycoremediation activity of Coprinus comatus on heavy metal contaminated media

Abstract

This present work highlighted the effects of heavy metals (lead, copper, chromium and cadmium) on the growth phases of Coprinus comatus and its potential in mycoremediation. The growth response was evaluated on potato sucrose gulaman with varying concentrations (0 ppm, 1 ppm, 10 ppm, and 100 ppm) of the four metals. The ability to accumulate metals was determined on the rice straw - sawdust (7:3 ratio) based substrate formulation infused with 2 ml of 1000 ppm of metals. Metal contents of fruiting bodies were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results revealed that the growth of mycelia, initiation of primordia and development of fruiting bodies of C. comatus were significantly affected by the varying concentrations of the four heavy metals. Apparently, cadmium was the most toxic which significantly recorded the lowest diameter of mycelial growth (20.75 ± 0.87 mm), the most extensive periods of primordia (15.00 ± 0.00 days) and fruiting body (17.00 ± 0.00 days) development at 100 ppm concentration. Among the contaminated substrates, lead produced the highest weight of 3.17 ± 0.15 g while cadmium had the lowest weight (2.10 ± 0.20 g) of fruiting bodies. Chemical analyses showed that copper was obtained in highest amount (16.78 ppm) while cadmium occurred in lowest amount (10.83 ppm). The high tolerance and the ability to accumulate heavy metals strongly suggest that C. comatus is another candidate in mycoremediation.