Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (pyrene) using novel fungal strain Coriolopsis byrsina strain APC5

•C. byrsina APC5 is novel fungi efficiently degrade pyrene upto 96.1% within 18 days.•First report of biodegradation of pyrene by C. byrsina.•C. byrsina produced a significant amount (p < 0.0001) of ligninolytic enzyme in the presence of pyrene.•Metabolites of pyrene degradation were analyzed by FTIR and GCMS.•C. byrsina also able to degrade pyrene in in-vivo condition.

Coriolopsis byrsina strain APC5, white rot fungi was isolated from Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, India, which was able to degrade 96.1% of pyrene with the help of their ligninolytic activity. C. byrsina produced a significant amount of ligninolytic enzyme upto p < 0.0001 significant level in the pyrene containing mineral salt broth. Different physical parameters like pH (3.0-8.0), temperature (15-55 °C) and salinity (10 g L−1, 32 g L−1) were optimized for the efficient degradation. The highest degradation of pyrene and enzyme production was found on pH 6 at 25 °C temperature. The pyrene degradation was analyzed by High performance liquid chromatography and functional group modification of pyrene degraded metabolites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and identified by Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The metabolic intermediate compounds are identified, such as pyruvic acid, benzoic acid, benzoic acid 2-hydroxy pentyl ester, phenanthrene, pthalic acid diisopropyl ester, 4, 5 di hydroxy pyrene. Degradation of pyrene was also examined in in-vivo condition and 51.85% degradation was investigated in soil, On the basis of this study, C. byrsina strain APC5 can be used as potential pollutant degrader from the environment after successful field trial.