Arsenite Resistance, Accumulation, and Volatilization Properties of Trichoderma asperellum SM-12F1, Penicillium janthinellum SM-12F4, and Fusarium oxysporum CZ-8F1

It is expected that microorganisms capable of arsenic (As) accumulation and volatilization can be used to remediate As-contaminated environments. In this paper, the arsenite [As(III)] resistance, accumulation, and volatilization properties of Trichoderma asperellum SM-12F1, Penicillium janthinellum SM-12F4, and Fusarium oxysporum CZ-8F1 were investigated. The results indicated that all three fungal strains exhibited significant As(III)-resistance. After being exposed to 40 and 80mg/L As(III) for five days, the dry mycelium weights of P. janthinellum SM-12F4 and F. oxysporum CZ-8F1 were significantly increased compared to the controls. The spiked As(III) initially inhibited and subsequently promoted fungal growth (mainly in the logarithmic growth phase). The maximal biomasses of 0.25, 0.29, and 0.29g for T. asperellum SM-12F1, P. janthinellum SM-12F4, and F. oxysporum CZ-8F1 after exposure to As(III), respectively, were all higher than their corresponding controls without As(III). When exposed to 40mg/L As(III) for five days, the efficiencies of As(III) accumulation for T. asperellum SM-12F1, P. janthinellum SM-12F4, and F. oxysporum CZ-8F1 were 53.02, 13.67, and 13.65 mu g/g/day, respectively, and the efficiencies of As(III) volatilization were 51.87, 54.34, and 46.35 mu g/g/day, respectively. It seems that these fungal strains can be used in the future to tackle As-contaminated environments.