Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons by an Organic Solvent-Tolerant Fungus, Cladosporium resinae NK-1

A kerosene fungus of Cladosporium resinae NK-1 was examined for its ability to degrade individual n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and its organic solvent-tolerance was investigated by making use of the water-organic solvent suspension culture method. It grew on a wide range of solvents of varying hydrophobicities and it was found to have tolerance to various kinds of toxic organic solvents (10%, v/v) such as n-alkanes, cyclohexane, xylene, styrene, and toluene. A hydrocarbon degradation experiment indicated that NK-1 had a greater n-alkane degrading ability compared to that of the other selected strains. C. resinae NK-1, which could utilize 8-16 carbon chain-length n-alkanes of medium chain-length as a carbon source, could not assimilate the shorter chain-length n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons tested so far. The n-alkane degrading enzyme activity was found in the mycelial extract of the organism.