Fungus-Fungus Association of Boletus griseus and Hypomyces chrysospermus and Cadmium Resistance Characteristics of Symbiotic Fungus Hypomyces chrysospermus
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 2022-05-27
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Summary
This research discovered an important relationship between two fungi species that helps explain how certain mushrooms can accumulate high levels of toxic cadmium metal from soil. The findings show how one fungus (Hypomyces chrysospermus) lives symbiotically with an edible mushroom (Boletus griseus) and helps it absorb cadmium. This relationship could be useful for cleaning up contaminated environments.
Impacts on everyday life:
– Provides new understanding of how mushrooms can concentrate heavy metals, which is important for food safety
– Identifies a potential natural solution for cleaning up cadmium pollution in soil and water
– Demonstrates how biological partnerships in nature can be harnessed for environmental remediation
– Helps explain why certain wild mushrooms should be tested for metal content before consumption
– Could lead to development of better methods for removing toxic metals from the environment
Background
Boletus griseus is a common wild-grown edible mushroom known to accumulate high amounts of cadmium (Cd) even in natural habitats with low Cd content. Studies have shown B. griseus can accumulate Cd contents ranging from 1.61-42.67 mg/kg while soil Cd levels were only 0.03-0.57 mg/kg. The mechanisms behind this strong Cd bioaccumulation ability were not fully understood.
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the symbiotic relationship between B. griseus and an associated fungus, analyze Cd contents in normal and symbiotic fruiting bodies, isolate and identify the symbiotic fungus, and assess its Cd tolerance and accumulation characteristics to better understand the Cd bioaccumulation mechanisms of B. griseus.
Results
The symbiotic fungus was identified as Hypomyces chrysospermus. It showed strong Cd tolerance with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 200 mg/L. The fungus could accumulate up to 10.03 mg/g of Cd in biomass. Low concentrations of Cd (20 mg/L) promoted fungal growth while higher concentrations suppressed growth and altered hyphal morphology. The fungus employed cell wall immobilization, acid compounds, and antioxidant enzymes to cope with Cd toxicity.
Conclusion
This study revealed a novel symbiotic association between B. griseus and H. chrysospermus and demonstrated the strong Cd resistance characteristics of H. chrysospermus. The findings suggest this symbiotic relationship may represent a biological strategy for B. griseus to efficiently uptake Cd from soil. The isolated H. chrysospermus strain shows potential as a bioremediation agent for Cd contamination.
- Published in:Journal of Fungi,
- Study Type:Laboratory Research,
- Source: 10.3390/jof8060578