Trivalent Arsenic Tolerance and Accumulation in Two Facultative Marine Fungi

Abstract

Background: Facultative marine fungi could potentially be arsenic tolerant and may be able to remove this highly poisonous metal from the environment. Objectives: The objective of this work was to explore the degree of tolerance and removal efficiency of two facultative marine fungi. Materials and Methods: Facultative marine fungi Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus spp. were exposed to 25 mg/L and 50 mg/L sodium arsenite (As (III)). Tolerance of these species to the test concentrations was assessed by studying their biomass accumulation. Accumulation of arsenic by the fungal biomass was also evaluated. Results: Our study revealed that both A. flavus and Rhizopus sp. exhibited tolerance towards the test concentrations of arsenic. Both of the test fungi also exhibited arsenic accumulation. Rhizopus sp. was found to be a slightly better potential accumulator. Conclusions: This study reveals that the test fungi can be harnessed as bioremediation agents for arsenic contaminated sites.