Uptake of Heavy Metals by a Copper-tolerant Fungus,Penicillium ochro-chloron

Abstract

A strain of Penicillium ochro-chloron having a highly tolerance to copper has a similar tolerance to zinc, manganese, iron, lead and cadmium; but has sensitivity to mercury, nickel and cobalt. The cellular contents of copper and zinc in the fungus leveled off in the cases of media containing higher concentrations of copper and zinc. These constant uptakes were particular characteristics with copper and zinc, whereas they were not observed with nickel and cobalt. Marked reduction of the cellular contents of potassium and magnesium was observed in the cases of higher concentrations of copper and zinc in the media.