Heavy Metal Tolerance of Fungus Isolated from Soil Contaminated with Sewage and Industrial Wastewater

Fungi, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium chrysogenum, resistant to heavy metals like Cr and Pb were isolated after screening soil samples from peri-urban agricultural areas. The objective of soil sample screening was to investigate the status of heavy metals and to identify the heavy metal-tolerant fungi. The results revealed that the majority of the isolates were resistant to Pb and Cr, and only few of them were able to grow. Among the isolated fungal strains, Aspergillus niger was the most tolerant against Pb, with MIC of 600 mg/l, and Aspergillus flavus against Cr, with MIC of 400 mg/l, which makes them attractive potential candidates as bioremediation agents.