Ricerc@Sapienza

The saprotrophic fungus Penicillium griseofulvum was chosen as model organism to study responses to a mixture of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH) and of potentially toxic metals (vanadium, lead) in solid and liquid media. The P. griseofulvum FBL 500 strain was isolated from polluted soil containing high concentrations of HCH isomers and potentially toxic elements (Pb, V).

For decades, human activities, industrialization, and agriculture have contaminated soils and water with several compounds, including potentially toxic metals and organic persistent xenobiotics. The co-occurrence of those toxicants poses challenging environmental problems, as complicated chemical interactions and synergies can arise and lead to severe and toxic effects on organisms.

Modern agriculture is dependent on phosphate rock (PR), which is a nonrenewable resource. Improvement of phosphorus (P) availability for crops in agricultural soils represents a key strategy to slow down the depletion of PR. The aim of this study was to identify potential P biofertilisers among saprotrophic fungal species. We tested 30 fungal strains belonging to 28 taxa (4 Zygomycota and 24 Ascomycota) and with different life strategies. The study showed that many saprotrophic fungi have the ability to mobilise P from insoluble forms according to a variety of mechanisms.

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.

Degradation threats affect soils and ecosystems, providing fundamental services for humans and living organisms. Contamination represents a major soil threat and can impair several soil functions, such as biomass production, storage, filtration and transformation of nutrients and water, and biodiversity pool (1). Despite in a smaller measure than in the past, agriculture is one of the major drivers of soil contamination, contributing with pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers added to improve crop yield.