Bioremoval of Heavy Metals by Native Isolates of Trichoderma viride PSGSS01, Purpureocillium lilacinum PSGSS05, and Aspergillus nidulans PSGSS08

The contamination of ecosystems with heavy metals necessitates the inspection of effective, eco-friendly bioremediation strategies over expensive conventional methods. This study examined the capacity of filamentous fungi to withstand and remove heavy metals under controlled laboratory conditions. Fungal isolates were obtained from tree bark and soil samples collected from Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and Palakkad (Kerala), India. Preliminary examination revealed that Trichoderma viride PSGSS01, Purpureocillium lilacinum PSGSS05, and Aspergillus nidulans PSGSS08 are potential isolates for the bioremoval of heavy metals. Tolerance assays indicated that T. viride PSGSS01 displayed the greatest resistance, particularly to copper, with a tolerance index of 0.95. Biosorption experiments revealed notable Cu (II), Zn (II), and Co (II) removal efficiencies by T. viride, A. nidulans, and P. lilacinum, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of metal-exposed mycelia showed pronounced structural alterations. The isolated native ascomycetes demonstrated a higher potential to remove heavy metals. These novel strains are strong candidates for mycoremediation of environments contaminated with multiple heavy metals, as they are not only sustainable but also reusable and can be subjected to the recovery of the metals.