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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #89075
Title: FORMULATION OF FILAMENTOUS FUNGI FOR BIOREMEDIATION

Author
item CHILDRESS, A - TULANE UNIVERSITY
item BENNETT, J - TULANE UNIVERSITY
item Connick Jr, William
item Daigle, Donald

Submitted to: Biotechnology Techniques
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Toxic chemical waste sites are numerous and harmful to people and the environment. Improved methods and products are needed to clean up these sites. Two fungi that can convert toxic chemicals into harmless substances have been incorporated in granules that can be applied to the ground. The fungi grew out of the granules into contaminated soil and remained active in the granules during storage. These products have potential for effective delivery of the beneficial fungi to toxic waste sites.

Technical Abstract: Mycelia Marasmiellus troyanus embedded in calcium alginate granules with corn cob grits as a nutritive amendment were viable after one year with refrigeration but inviable when stored at room temperature. With refrigeration, Panerochaete chrysosporium mycelia and spores embedded in alginate were both viable after one year. At room temperature, spores encapsulated in alginate granules gave good viability while mycelial formulations did not. In all trials, corn cob grits was superior to saw dust for extending shelf life. Corn cob grits-amended granules of both species were able to germinate and grow in both uncontaminated soil and chemical waste-contaminated soil.