Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol by marine-derived fungus Trichoderma harzianum CBMAI 1677 isolated from ascidian Didemnun ligulum

•Marine-derived fungi were able to grow in the presence of pentachlorophenol (PCP).•Trichoderma harzianum CBMAI 1677 completely biotransformed 20 mg L−1 of PCP after 7 d.•The metabolites were pentachloroanisole (PCA) and 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole (TeCA).•PCA and TeCA were also biodegraded by this strain.•T. harzianum CBMAI 1677 can be used in bioremediation studies.

In this study, the marine-derived fungi Aspergillus sydowii DL6A, Apergillus versicolor DL5A, Cladosporium oxysporum DL5G, Fusarium proliferatum DL11A and Trichoderma harzianum CBMAI 1677 isolated from marine ascidian Didemnun ligulum were evaluated according to their growth in the presence of pentachlorophenol (PCP). The colonies were assessed in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg L−1 of PCP in a solid culture medium (3% malt). The fungus T. harzianum CBMAI 1677 showed the best growth at 50 mg L−1, which suggests its potential for biodegradation, therefore, this strain was selected for quantitative experiments in 3% malt liquid medium (initial concentration of 20 mg L−1 of PCP) using a validated method. After 7 d of incubation, PCP was not detected and an increasing concentration of pentachloroanisole (PCA) and 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole (2,3,4,6-TeCA) was observed. In a second step, T. harzianum CBMAI 1677 was employed in the biodegradation of PCA and 2,3,4,6-TeCA in a liquid medium. It was observed that both PCA and 2,3,4,6-TeCA were also biodegraded. T. harzianum CBMAI 1677 is a potential strain for bioremediation studies since it was able of biodegrade not only PCP at 20 mg L−1, but also its main metabolites PCA and 2,3,4,6-TeCA.

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