Detection of parameters enhancing the performance of white-rot fungi for degradation of Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbons through design-of-experiment methodologies

The aim of this work is to evaluate the tolerance and the growth capabilities of a white rot fungus, the Pleurotus-Sajor Caju, when exposed to Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbons. The research was carried out by using in vitro systems developed on Petri dishes, where microbial strains are exposed to chemical pollutants, in particular pyrene and chrysene along with addition of surfactants, peptone, copper sulphate and lecithin that may promote fungal growth and tolerance. It was found that the fungal population growth is strongly inhibited by chrysene presence. On the other hand the pyrene has a mild negative impact on the micelyal growth, which seems to be positively influenced by the presence of Tween 80 and copper sulphate.