Degradative properties of two newly isolated strains of the ascomycetes Fusarium oxysporum and Lecanicillium aphanocladii

Two ascomycete strains were isolated from creosote-contaminated railway sleeper wood. By using a polyphasic approach combining morpho-physiological observations of colonies with molecular tools, the strains were identified as Fusarium oxysporum Schltdl. (IBPPM 543, MUT 4558; GenBank accession no. MG593980) and Lecanicillium aphanocladii Zare & W. Gams (IBPPM 542, MUT 242; GenBank accession no. MG593981). Both strains degraded hazardous pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, anthraquinone-type dyes, and oil. Oil was better degraded by F. oxysporum , but the aromatic compounds were better degraded by L. aphanocladii . With both strains, the degradation products of anthracene, phenanthrene, and fluorene were 9,10-anthraquinone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, and 9-fluorenone, respectively. During pollutant degradation, F. oxysporum and L. aphanocladii produced an emulsifying compound(s). Both fungi produced extracellular Mn-peroxidases, enzymes possibly involved in the fungal degradation of the pollutants. This is the first report on the ability of L. aphanocladii to degrade four-ring PAHs, anthraquinone-type dyes, and oil, with the simultaneous production of an extracellular Mn-peroxidase.