Isolation, identification and characterization of A Fusarium lichenicola strain with high

A fungal strain with high Cr(VI) reduction potential was isolated from a heavy metal-contaminated soil by batch enrichment culture techniques. The isolated fungus was identified as Fusarium lichenicola by the D1/D2 domain sequence of its 28S rDNA gene. The Cr(VI) reduction process catalyzed by F. lichenicola was characterized in batch cultures conducted at initial Cr(VI) concentrations ranging from 0.56 to 3.63 mM. The fungus showed remarkable capacity to reduce very high concentrations of Cr(VI) (2.89 mM) completely, under aerobic conditions. The highest volumetric rate of Cr(VI) reduction was approximately 1 mg L^-1 h^-1 and it was attained at initial Cr(VI) concentrations ranging from 0.56 to 2.06 mM; however, at higher Cr(VI) concentrations, the volumetric rate decreased, probably due to Cr(VI) toxicity. The characteristics exhibited by this F. lichenicola strain make it potentially useful in biotechnological processes for remediation of Cr(VI)-laden wastewaters.