Biodegradation of crude oil and n-alkanes by fungi isolated from Oman.
Ten fungal species isolated from tar balls collected from the beaches of Oman were tested for their abilities to grow and degrade n-alkanes and crude oil. The abilities of Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus and Penicillium chrysogenum to degrade n-alkanes (C13-C18), crude oil were compared and their mycelial biomass was measured. Significant differences were found in the utilization of C15, C16, C17 and C18 by the three fungi. Similarly, significant differences we found in the amount of biomass produced by the three fungi growing on C13, C17, C18 and crude oil. The correlation coefficient of biomass and oil utilization was not statistically significant for Aspergillus niger, significant for Aspergillus terreus and highly significant for P. chrysogenum.
Elshafie
Abdulkadir
A
Department of Biology, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36 Al Khod, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Elshafie@squ.edu.om
AlKindi
Abdulaziz Yahya
AY
Al-Busaidi
Sultan
S
Bakheit
Charles
C
Albahry
S N
SN
D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002617:Chemical Industry; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009850:Oman; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
D000473:Alkanes; D010578:Petroleum; D012989:Soil Pollutants