Antarctic fungi applied to textile dye bioremediation

Antarctica has one of the most hostile conditions on the planet. The environmental characteristics found in this region favor the development of extremophile microorganisms, which are poorly explored biotechnologically. In this context, this study aimed at selectively isolating fungi with potential for the bioremediation of a textile dye. A total of 11 filamentous fungi were isolated from Antarctic samples after incubation in Minimal Mineral medium with the addition of Sulphur Indigo Blue dye. The Antarctic-derived fungi were submitted to textile dye decolorization analysis and biomass production. Isolates LAMAI 2400 and LAMAI 2402 showed more than 90% of decolorization at 15 °C, whereas at 28 °C these isolates showed 81.86 and 98.89%, respectively. In general, the toxicity of the bioassays, evaluated using Cucumis sativus, was higher than in the control. Both isolates, LAMAI 2400 and LAMAI 2402, were identified as Penicillium cf. oxalicum and classified as mesophilic-psychrotolerant. This fungal species has rarely been reported in the Antarctic environments. The results presented herein indicate the potential of the fungi recovered from Antarctic marine sediments for bioremediation of textile dyes at low and moderate temperatures, broadening the perspectives in the field of Antarctic mycology.