Biodegradation of pesticides using fungi species found in the aquatic environment

Abstract

Relatively limited attention has been given to the presence of fungi in the aquatic environment compared to their occurrence in other matrices. Taking advantage and recognizing the biodegradable capabilities of fungi is important, since these organisms may produce many potent enzymes capable of degrading toxic pollutants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential ability of some species of filamentous fungi that occur in the aquatic environment to degrade pesticides in untreated surface water. Several laboratory-scale experiments were performed using the natural microbial population present in the aquatic environment as well as spiked fungi isolates that were found to occur in different water matrices, to test the ability of fungi to degrade several pesticides of current concern (atrazine, diuron, isoproturon and chlorfenvinphos). The results obtained in this study showed that, when spiked in sterile natural water, fungi were able to degrade chlorfenvinphos to levels below detection and unable to degrade atrazine, diuron and isoproturon. Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus and Trichoderma harzianum were found to be able to resist and degrade chlorfenvinphos. These fungi are therefore expected to play an important role in the degradation of this and other pollutants present in the aquatic environment.

Vermamoeba vermiformis-Aspergillus fumigatus relationships and comparison with other phagocytic cells

“…Aspergillus species are saprophytic moulds widely distributed in soil, decaying vegetation, dust, bioaerosols and different aquatic environments, in which they are expected to contribute to the degradation of pollutants (Sammon et al 2010;Pereira et al 2013;Pearson et al 2015;Ma et al 2015;Oliveira et al 2015). Aspergillus fumigatus, which is responsible for severe pathologies in humans and birds (Van Waeyenberghe et al 2013), has been isolated from hospital water systems and plumbing drains (Hayette et al 2010).…”

Fungi as a toolbox for sustainable bioremediation of pesticides in soil and water

“…It indeed grew almost 4-fold more than the other A. sydowii. to the presence of toxic pesticides and the interaction with the natural microbial population: P. citrinum, A. fumigatus and A. terreus were the most robust to the environmental conditions and actually capable of degrading the spiked chlorfenvinphos (Oliveira et al 2015).…”

Influence of the soil microbial populations on population density of Beauveria bassiana under the effect of insecticides

“…Mochi et al (2005) showed that some insecticides had no toxic effect on M. anisopliae in the soil, with the exception of trichlorphon, an insecticide of the organophosphorous chemical group, which significantly reduced the respiratory activity of the fungus. In the aquatic environment the fungi Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus and Trichoderma harziaum were resistant and capable of degrading chlorfenvinphos, an organophosphorous insecticide as chlorpyriphos (Oliveira et al, 2015).…”