Mycoremediation of Flotation Tailings with Agaricus bisporus

Abstract

Due to their enzymatic and bioaccumulation faculties the use of macromycetes for the decontamination of polluted matrices seems reasonable for bioremediation. For this reason, the aim of our study was to evaluate the mycoremediation ability of Agaricus bisporus cultivated on compost mixed with flotation tailings in different quantities (1, 5, 10, 15, and 20% addition). The biomass of the fruit bodies and the content of 51 major and trace elements were determined. Cultivation of A. bisporus in compost moderately polluted with flotation tailings yielded significantly lower (the first flush) and higher (the second flush) biomass of fruit bodies, compared with the control treatment. The presence of toxic trace elements did not cause any visible adverse symptoms for A. bisporus. Increasing the addition of flotation tailings to the compost induced an elevated level of most determined elements. A significant increase in rare earth elements (both flushes) and platinum group elements (first flush only) was observed. The opposite situation was recorded for major essential elements, except for Na and Mg in A. bisporus from the second flush under the most enriched compost (20%). Nevertheless, calculated bioaccumulation factor values showed a selective accumulation capacity—limited for toxic elements (except for Ag, As, and Cd) and the effective accumulation of B, Cu, K, and Se. The obtained results confirmed that A. bisporus can be used for practical application in mycoremediation in the industry although this must be preceded by larger-scale tests. This application seems to be the most favorable for media contaminated with selected elements, whose absorption by fruiting bodies is the most efficient.

An Approach to Evaluate Pb Tolerance and Its Removal Mechanisms by Pleurotus opuntiae

“…Additionally, agro-industrial wastes are used by mushrooms as substrates for growth and cultivation. Moreover, various fungal species of Penicillium, Rhizopus, Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Agaricus, and Pleurotus have manifested an association between toxic metal resistances and the capacity to reduce metal contamination from the wastewater [15,16]. For instance, Penicillium simplicissimum was found to tolerate 2000 mg L −1 Pb and 1000 mg L −1 Cu and it also showed removal efficiency of 16.18 and 38.98 mg g −1 from the liquid medium, respectively [15], whereas, Trichoderma asperellum displayed tolerance towards Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn via the mechanism of biosorption [17].…”

Antifungal Properties of Nanosilver Clay Composites Against Fungal Pathogens of Agaricus bisporus

“…The results of this study show that the nanosilver clay composites are not indiscriminate and selectively inhibit the fungal pathogens, while not affecting the host fungus (A. bisporus), an observation that has also been shown in other studies where toxic trace elements, including silver, did not have any adverse effect on A. bisporus, either the mycelial growth or the production of fruiting bodies. [60] It was found that A. bisporus is highly selective in its accumulation of elements, a possible explanation for its insensitivity when growing in the presence of silver. In addition, A. bisporus is used to conduct extracellular synthesis of AgNPs, implying the presence of silver ion-reducing enzymes that could infer resistance to this metal.…”

Preface to the Special Issue ‘Heavy Metals in Mushrooms’

“…The fourth article describes a risk assessment of total mercury content in edible wild mushrooms in Slovakia, while the fifth article evaluates the concentration of six heavy metals in two edible oyster mushrooms [4,5]. Furthermore, the sixth article examines the mycomedial ability of Agaricus bisporus to grow on compost mixed with flotation residues [6]. The seventh article highlights the resistance of white and brown rot fungi to copper in the microcosm of copper/azole-treated wood [7].…”