Impending heavy metal tolerance of fungus isolated from dye industrial sludge

In the present study, the fungal species were isolated from dye industrial sludge collected at common effluent treatment plant (CETP). The isolated strains were screened for metal tolerance index (MTI) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in potato dextrose agar plates amended with various concentrations, ranging from 20-100 ppm of Cu and Fe. The three fungal strains such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus were isolated. The results of MIC revealed that all the three isolates were able to tolerate various concentrations of Cu and Fe. The strain Aspergillus flavus showed the higher tolerance index of Cu, when compared with other isolates. Similarly the strain Rhizopus was the most tolerant species and exhibit strong growth at high concentration of Fe. The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus exhibit the moderate tolerance of both the heavy metals. The isolated fungus was exhibiting strong growth and tolerance to metals, can be a viable species for bioremediation.