ABSTRACT

Plastic is a naturally recalcitrant polymer, once it enters the environment, it will remain there for several years. Accretion of plastic as wastes in the environment poses a serious problem and causes an ecological threat. Various strategies to reduce accumulation of plastic wastes have been initiated and implemented from a different aspect including from microbiological view point. The current report is on the fungal flora of 35 years old municipal landfill site polluted with plastic. The site was chosen to increase the probability of finding the plastic degrading fungi which can use plastic as sole carbon source. This is the first attempt of exploring the fungal flora of the site selected by us. Prospective fungi were isolated by logarithmic dilution method and pure cultures were obtained by standard microbial procedures. Ten soil samples were tested for the incidence of fungal strains from plastic contaminated soil. A total of 30 fungal strains were isolated and 16 fungi were characterized morphologically and microscopically using standard method of staining. It was found that all the isolated species belongs to phylum Ascomycota and genus Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Fusarium. Among the isolated fungal species, highest frequency observed is of Penicillium chrysogenum complex (16.44%) and Aspergillus flavus (15.06%), while the lowest frequency was of Trichoderma viridae, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus clavatus (1.37%). The other fungi that is A. niger, A. terreus, A. nidulans, A. fumigates, A. amstelodami, A. oryzae, Penicillium verucosum, Fusarium oxysporum, Cladosporium pseudo cladosporides, Cladosporium cladosporides and Cladosporium sphaerospermum were found between the range of 2.73% to 6.85%. These species of fungi probably degrade multiple types of plastics through the formation of Biofilm on the surface of plastic polymers where symbiotic relationship exists of biodegradation as well as nutrient utilization of carbon. The majority of fungal species particularly Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum complex, Cladosporium pseudo cladosporides and Aspergillus niger isolated from the site penetrate into the plastic polymer leading to its rapid degradation. The present data reflect the high potential of these fungal species for rapid biodegradation of plastic which has commercial applications if exploited properly. Keywords: Plastic, Pollution, Bioremediation, Fungi, Ascomycota
Publication date: 01/02/2022

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2022/February/MS_IJBPAS_2022_5875.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2022/11.2.5875