Ricerc@Sapienza

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was used worldwide as an organochlorine insecticide to control agricultural pests and vectors of several insectborne human diseases. It was banned in most industrialized countries; however, due to its persistence in the environment, DDT residues remain in environmental compartments, becoming long-term sources of exposure. To identify and select fungal species suitable for bioremediation of DDT-contaminated sites, soil samples were collected from DDT-contaminated agricultural soils in Poland, and 38 fungal taxa among 18 genera were isolated.

Developing an inexpensive, effective and environmentally-friendly method of remediation of
persistent organic pollutants is still an emerging need. Exploiting natural rhizosphere
microorganisms, having capacity to degrade various xenobiotics, in association to plants able to
accumulate the pollutants into their biomass, is a promising alternative to conventional remediation
techniques. In this respect, fungi can play a key role.
Several reports are showing high potential of Cucurbitaceae in phytoremediation of DDT and its