Wet sand cultures to screen filamentous fungi for the biotransformation ofpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The biodegradation of phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene was assayed in liquid and wet sand cultures in the presence of five filamentous fungi. In the co ntrols, 85% volatilisation of phenanthrene occurred within 28 days in liqui d cultures while it was only 50% in wet sand. In the later system, remainin g phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene amounted to 6-51 and 53-92% of their init ial levels, respectively, according to the strains. Then, wet sand used as a screening tool evidenced Trametes versicolor and Cunninghamella elegans a s the most efficient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degraders among ten s trains.