title: Fluoride-tolerant mutants of Aspergillus niger show enhanced phosphate solubilization capacity.
abstract: P-solubilizing microorganisms are a promising alternative for a sustainable use of P against a backdrop of depletion of high-grade rock phosphates (RPs). Nevertheless, toxic elements present in RPs, such as fluorine, can negatively affect microbial solubilization. Thus, this study aimed at selecting Aspergillus niger mutants efficient at P solubilization in the presence of fluoride (F-). The mutants were obtained by exposition of conidia to UV light followed by screening in a medium supplemented with Ca3(PO4)2 and F-. The mutant FS1-555 showed the highest solubilization in the presence of F-, releasing approximately 70% of the P contained in Ca3(PO4)2, a value 1.7 times higher than that obtained for the wild type (WT). The mutant FS1-331 showed improved ability of solubilizing fluorapatites, increasing the solubilization of Araxá, Catalão, and Patos RPs by 1.7, 1.6, and 2.5 times that of the WT, respectively. These mutants also grew better in the presence of F-, indicating that mutagenesis allowed the acquisition of F- tolerance. Higher production of oxalic acid by FS1-331 correlated with its improved capacity for RP solubilization. This mutant represents a significant improvement and possess a high potential for application in solubilization systems with fluoride-rich phosphate sources.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ubiana de Cássia
authors.initials: Ude C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil; Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gilberto de Oliveira
authors.initials: Gde O
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nina Morena R M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Josiane Leal
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil; Pesquisador Bolsista do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ivo Ribeiro
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil; Pesquisador Bolsista do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcos Rogério
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tótola
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil; Pesquisador Bolsista do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maurício Dutra
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D005459:Fluorides; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation; D010710:Phosphates; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D005459:Fluorides