MYCOBIOTA OF SOILS POLLUTED WITH METAL-AND DYE- CONTAINING EFFLUENTS FROM INDUSTRIAL UNITS LOCATED AT MEERUT AND HAPUR (WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH)

Abstract

A total of nineteen species of fungi were isolated from the soil exposed to industrialeffluents containing heavy metals using serial dilution plate method. R. oryzae, M.rouxii, A. flavus and P. spinulosum together comprised roughly two-third (64.59%) ofthe isolates obtained from metal-polluted soils. The Fusaria constituted only a verymeagre fraction of 0.78% only. The mucoraceous fungi dominated the platesfollowed by aspergilli. A total of twenty four species of fungi were isolated from thesoils polluted with effluents containing dyes. M. rouxii, R. oryzae, A. flavus and P.spinulosum together comprised majority (55.49%) of the isolates. The mucoraceousfungi constituted most prominent group followed by aspergilli and penicillia — thethree groups together comprised overwhelming majority (75.24%) of the totalisolates. The genus Aspergillus was represented by maximum number of species (8species excluding Emericella nidulans) followed by Penicillium (4 species). FamilyMoniliaceae has the highest contribution to the mycoflora as 15 species (out of 35isolated) belonged to this family. Monilliaceae was the most diverse taxonomicfamily. Metal pollution appears to exert greater adverse impact on soilmycodiversity than dye pollution. The potential of fungi to adsorb heavy metalsmust be an important factor contributing to their ability to survive and flourish insoils.