Response of the Filamentous Microfungus Fusarium sp. to Lead: Growth and Mycoremediation

As environmental pollution intensifies, the development of effective ecological remediation strategies becomes increasingly urgent. In this study, a filamentous fungus that grew on a substrate previously contaminated with lead (Pb) was isolated, identified, and evaluated for its tolerance to heavy metal exposure. Molecular identification was performed through sequencing of the ribosomal DNA ITS1 region. Radial growth was assessed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at different Pb concentrations, and the biosorption potential of the isolate to remove Pb from aqueous solutions was also investigated. Fusarium sp. exhibited moderate to high tolerance. Pb exposure inhibited fungal growth by approximately 30% at 100 ppm and 70% at 1000 ppm. In liquid medium, the fungus removed up to 37% of Pb at 750 ppm after 20 days. These findings indicate that Fusarium sp. has significant potential for in situ and ex situ mycoremediation of Pb-contaminated soils and waters. This work represents the first report of Pb removal by a wild Fusarium isolate from Guayaquil, Ecuador.