ABSTRACT
The miniaturization and optimization of a white rot fungal bioremediation experiment is described in this paper. The optimized procedure allows determination of the degradation kinetics of anthracene. The miniaturized procedure requires only 2.5 ml of culture medium. The experiment is more precise, robust, and better controlled comparing it to classical tests in flasks. Using this technique, different parts, i.e., the culture medium, the fungi, and the cotton seal, can be analyzed. A simple sample preparation speeds up the analytical process. Experiments performed show degradation of anthracene up to approximately 60% by Irpex lacteus and up to approximately 40% by Pleurotus ostreatus in 25 days. Bioremediation of anthracene by the consortium of I. lacteus and P. ostreatus shows the biodegradation of anthracene up to approximately 56% in 23 days. At the end of the experiment, the surface tension of culture medium decreased comparing it to the blank, indicating generation of surfactant compounds.
Subject(s)
Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods , Pleurotus/metabolism , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/metabolism , Anthracenes/metabolism , Basidiomycota/metabolism , Culture Media/metabolism , Environmental Pollutants/metabolism , Fungi/metabolism , In Vitro Techniques , Limit of Detection , Naphthalenes/metabolism , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: The aim of this work was to estimate the phytopathologic condition of mints grown and self-growing in Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University and elsewhere in Lithuania; and to identify the specific constitution, the spread and damage of the main pests and disease agents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observations and examination were carried out with two local, four introduced mint species and with four hybrids in 1997-2003. We estimated the plant condition by identifying the intensity of the diseases and the abundance, spreading and damage of the pests. During the study we detected and identified the following pests--agents of diseases: Puccinia menthae, Erysiphe biocellata and Verticillium sp.; and phytophagous: Tetranychus urticae, Eupteryx atropunctata, Ovatus crataegarius, Polia persicariae, Agriotes lineatus, Chrysomela coerulans, Cassida viridis, Longitarsus lycopi. The most dangerous mint disease in Lithuania is rust; pests causing more harm are: Eupteryx atropunctata, Longitarsus lycopi. According to our data the least resistant species to most diseases and pests were Mentha arvensis and Mentha piperita, however separate samples of these species were exceptionally resistant. More resistant species was Mentha spicata and its hybrids.
