Degradation of Benzo[a]Pyrene as Sole Carbon Source by a Non White Rot Fungus, Fusarium Solani

Non white rot fungi isolated from fuel-contaminated soil were screened for their ability to grow with benzo[a]pyrene as sole carbon source. The capacity of one isolate identified as F. solani F33 was further investigated by studying the mineralization of [7,10- 14 C]benzo[a]pyrene. Spores of F. solani were able to germinate in presence of benzo[a]pyrene and growing mycelium mineralized [7,10- 14 C]benzo[a]pyrene (0.2% over a period of 10 days). The amount of 14 CO 2 released decreased of 66% in 10 days culture in the presence of the inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 1-aminobenzotriazole, suggesting that such enzymes are involved in benzo[a]pyrene degradation by F. solani. This hypothesis was also enhanced by observing, in F. solani grown on benzo[a]pyrene, the presence of small vesicles with high