Abstract
Ectomycorrhizal fungi belonging to 16 species (27 strains) were tested for their ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): phenanthrene, chrysene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. Cultivated on a complex liquid medium, most of the fungi tested were able to metabolise these compounds. Approximately 50% of the benzo[a]pyrene was removed by strains of Amanita excelsa, Leccinum versipelle, Suillus grevillei, S. luteus, and S. variegatus during a 4-week incubation period. The same amount of phenanthrene was also metabolised by A. muscaria, Paxillus involutus, and S. grevillei. The degradation of the other two PAHs was, for the most part, less effective. Only S. grevillei was able to remove 50% of the pyrene, whereas Boletus edulis and A. muscaria removed 35% of the chrysene.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 12 April 1999 / Received revision: 27 May 1999 / Accepted: 28 May 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Braun-Lüllemann, A., Hüttermann, A. & Majcherczyk, A. Screening of ectomycorrhizal fungi for degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 53, 127–132 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051625
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051625