Evaluating Fungal and Bacterial strains as hydrocarbon degrader from the soil of workshops

Abstract

The most dangerous pollution in the environment are the unwanted hydrocarbon in form of oil and petroleum which is the result of leak from the coastal oil refiners and to overcomes these situations use of microbes are the only ecofriendly method and they are the main contributor to maintain a safer environment. Current study aimed to evaluate the fungi and bacteria as a bio-degrader of hydrocarbon, for his bacteria and fungi were first isolate and identify from the oil contaminated soil collected from the different workshops of Sargodha city. Result reveled that upper layer (0-2m) contain diverse and large number of bacteria and fungi specie (bacteria 50%; fungi 50%), while lowest layer (3-4m) contain less diverse and low number of bacterial and fungi species (bacteria 6.66%;
fungi 13.6%). After identification it was found that total 4 strains of fungi were isolate in which Aspergillustubingensis and Alternariatenuissima were dominantIn case of bacteria 7 strains were identified. Among which E. coli were dominant. Followed by the Pseudomonas spp. after biodegradation test it was found that fungal strain Aspergillustubingensis was the excellent bio-degrader (1.69×109) followed by the Aspergillums niger (1.40×108). On the other hands among the bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus utilizes high amount of the hydrocarbon as energy source (1.76×107) followed by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.67×109). in conclusion Introducing these microbes to the oil contaminated environment can solve the problems of hydrocarbon pollution.
But future research should be conducted to better understand the molecular mechanism of hydrocarbon degradation in order to better utilize these microorganisms for the welfare of human beings.