Interaction of higher marine fungi with the herbicide atrazine. I. Survey of interactive modes [Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes indigenous to the Chesapeake Bay]

Eight species of marine Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes indigenous to the Chesapeake Bay were surveyed for their ability to interact with the herbicide atrazine. In liquid shake cultures of artificial seawater containing glucose and NH 4 NO 3 , the fungi mediated losses of atrazine ranging from 8-18% of 30 ppm and 9-68% of 500 ppm. Adsorption to the cell surface was generally a minor component of loss at the lower concentration. Leptosphaeria oraemaris grew with 500 ppm of purified atrazine as the sole exogenous source of carbon or nitrogen, but not of both nutrients, and Periconia prolifica had statistically significant growth compared to controls when atrazine was the sole exogenous nitrogen source. These results suggest that filamentous marine fungi contribute to the bioaccumulation and biodegradation of atrazine in estuaries.