Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Chromium Resistant Fungi Having Competence to Degrade Anthracene from Industrial Effluent of South Gujarat

Abstract

Fungi being robust organism makes significant contribution in natural remediation of heavy metals and xenobiotic compound. Out of the thirty three different fungi isolated twenty two isolates were found to be chromium resistant. Fungus belonging to genera Penicillium and Trichoderma sp. were highly resistant to chromium up to 2000-2500ppm. Biosorption studies of chromium evaluated using live biomass of fungi shows maximum biosorption of the Cr 6+ i.e. 74% of 1000ppm Cr 6+ after 14 days. Degradation of anthracene with four different fungus isolates were studied and of them Penicilliumsp., Tichoderma sp. and Penicilliundecumbenshave confirmed their ability to degrade anthracene in minimal media. All the isolates were identified based on 18S rDNA gene sequencing and sequence were submitted to GenBank under accession no. KF284156-61 for Aspergillusterreus, Penicillium Sp., Penicilliumdecumbens, Trichodermaamazonicum, Hypocreaatroviridis and Trichoderma Sp. respectively. Phylogenetic study with some Cr resistant and/or PAHs degrading fungi was also carried out by using MEGA5. In all Penicilliundecumbenshas proven to be potentially useful strain and can be used for bioremediation of industrial effluent containing chromium and anthracene.