ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF MOLDS CAPABLE OF DEGRADING VARYING CONCENTRATIONS OF CRYSTAL VIOLET DYE
The improper disposal of synthetic dyes, particularly crystal violet, poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating the development of effective remediation strategies. This study aimed to isolate and characterize mold species capable of degrading varying concentrations of crystal violet dye. Soil and cow dung samples were collected and processed for fungal isolation using serial dilution and pour plating techniques. Three fungal species were identified: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium oxysporum. Morphological and microscopic analysis revealed distinct characteristics for each species, with A. niger exhibiting black, powdery colonies and biserrate conidial heads, A. flavus showing yellowish-green colonies with uniseriate columnar conidial heads, and F. oxysporum presenting whitish, velvety colonies with chlamydospores. The degradation potential of these isolates was evaluated at crystal violet concentrations of 0.001 %, 0.01 %, 0.1 %, and 1% over eight days. Results showed that A. niger exhibited the highest degradation efficiency, achieving 76% degradation at 0.01 % dye concentration by day eight. A. flavus demonstrated 80 % degradation at both 0.01 % and 0.001 % concentrations, while F. oxysporum showed a maximum degradation of 50 % at 1 % concentration. All isolates showed reduced degradation efficiency at higher dye concentrations, suggesting potential toxicity effects. The study highlights the potential of these fungal species, particularly A. niger and A. flavus, for bioremediation of crystal violet-contaminated environments. However, the challenges associated with high dye concentrations underscore the need for further research into optimizing fungal bioremediation processes, including the exploration of mixed fungal cultures and the effects of environmental parameters on degradation efficiency.
