Integrating Molecular and Ecological Insights for better understanding of Bioremediation Potential of Indigenous Fungal Isolates from the Marble Wastewater
Ahmad Z. Khan S.M. Khan A. Ali M.I. Tulindinova G. Ali S. Yang J.
February 2026Springer Nature
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
2026#237Issue 3
This study hypothesized that the marble waste-water polluted ecosystem (MWPE) hosts indigenous fungi that can tolerate and bioremediate heavy metals more successfully than non-indigenous fungi and can be used in managing polluted environments. Therefore, this work investigates the biosorption potential of indigenous fungi for different heavy metals (cadmium, iron, nickel, cobalt, mercury and copper) contamination isolated from the MWPE. A total of six indigenous fungi strains, including Aspergillus brasiliensis, A. sydowii, Fusarium petroliphilum, Aureobasidium leucospermi, Alternaria alternata and Curvularia aeria were isolated and identified through molecular and phylogenetic approaches using ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) region sequencing and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis. Among these strains, A. sydowii, A. brasiliensis, A. alternata and C. aeria demonstrated notable remediation potential with removal efficiencies exceeding 50% for Cd, Hg and 35% for Cu, 32% for Ni, 23% for Fe and 18% for Co within 28-days period. Statistical analyses (ANOVA, Tukey’s test, p < 0.05) revealed an initial decrease in biosorption efficiency during the first week followed by a consistent increase suggesting fungal adaptation and enhanced metabolic activity over time. Our research recommends the tolerance of identified fungi for large-scale myco-sorption or remediation in bioreactor systems and provides valuable insights for governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in waste water management and policy formulation for contaminated ecosystems.
Biodegradation , Bioremediation , Environmental sustainability , Fungi , Heavy metal , Marble wastewater
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Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, Mengla, 666303, China
Member Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
Department of Botany, University of Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lakki Marwat City, Pakistan
Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
Department of Biological Sciences, Pavlodar Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Plant Sciences
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops
Member Pakistan Academy of Sciences
Department of Botany
Department of Microbiology
Department of Biological Sciences
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026