Mycobiology.  2004 Sep;32(3):110-114.

Uptake of Radionuclides by Some Fungi

• Mahmoud YA

Abstract

Mycobiota including Alternaria alternata, Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus pulverulents were tested for their ability to uptake radiocobalt(Co-60) and radiocesium(Cs-137) from radionuclide containing medium. A. alternata was the most efficient fungal species for uptake of radioisotopes, followed by A. pulverulents, whereas F. verticilliodies came in the last rank. The conditions of radioisotope uptake were optimized such as the form of the fungal organism either spores or mycelium, inoculum age and pH of growing medium. Furthermore the total pigments of the tested fungi were extracted and tested for their ability to bind with radioisotope, where melanin of A. alternata produced about 60% for radioisotope uptake out of total added radioisotope radioactivity. Moreover, transmission electron microscopic examination of radioisotope exposed spores showed high precipitation of melanin granules in the spore wall and within the cell as comparing to untreated spores.

Keyword

Fungi; Melanin; Radiocesium; Radiocobalt; Radionuclide wastes

MeSH Terms

Alternaria
Aspergillus
Fungi*
Fusarium
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Melanins
Mycelium
Radioactivity
Radioisotopes*
Spores
Melanins
Radioisotopes