Trapping of marine-derived fungi on wooden baits to select species potentially usable in mycoremediation

Abstract

Fungi are used in many studies and applications for remediation purposes in order to degrade organic contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, thanks to their enzymatic activities. In particularly, ligninolytic marine-derived fungi can be applied to biodegradation, since they already play an active role in the biogeochemical cycles of marine substrates. To select species potentially usable in mycoremediation, the occurrence of ligninolytic marine-derived fungi was investigated in the water mass of a commercial port (Port of Genoa, north-western Italy) by exposing baits of different wood-types in the water column. 437 extremophile microfungal strains were found belonging to 12 genera and 23 species; the most common fungal species were Penicillium solitum and Dipodascus geotrichum, and differences in the investigated water column were highlighted.

Keywords

• wooden baits
• marine-derived fungi
• fungal diversity
• marine port environment