title: Role of the morphology and polyphosphate in Trichoderma harzianum related to cadmium removal.
abstract: This study concerns the metabolism of polyphosphate in Trichoderma harzianum, a biocontrol agent with innate resistance against most chemicals used in agriculture, including metals, when grown in the presence of different concentrations of cadmium. The biomass production was affected by the concentration of metal used. Control cultures were able to accumulate polyphosphate under the conditions used. Moreover, the presence of cadmium induced a reduction in polyphosphate content related to the concentration used. The morphological/ultrastructural aspects were characterized by using optical and scanning electron microscopy, and were affected by the heavy metal presence and concentration. The efficiency of cadmium removal revealed the potential of the microorganism for use in remediation. The data indicate the potential for polyphosphate accumulation by the fungus, as well as its degradation related to tolerance/survival in the presence of cadmium ions.
authors.affiliation: Master Course in Development of Environmental Processes, Catholic University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana de Freitas
authors.initials: Ade F
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Gabrielle Ferreira
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.forename: Marcos Antonio Barbosa
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Patrícia Mendes
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto Alves
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Galba Maria de Campos
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Takaki
authors.forename: Aline Elesbão
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002104:Cadmium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D011122:Polyphosphates; D002104:Cadmium