Investigating the ability of five fungal species to utilize Gasoline as sole carbon source.

This study investigated the abilities of five fungal isolates indigenously polluted mechanic soils to utilise gasoline. Of all the fungal isolates obtained in this study Aspergillus species. were found to be more predominant in the polluted mechanic soils. The growth profiles were determined by monitoring total viable counts, dry weights and pH of the culture utilizing gasoline as carbon and energy source. Total viable counts increased significantly and dry weights of fungi as the days of incubation progressed until the 14th day (P<.001). There was significant difference (P<.002) in the pH values of the fungal isolates. The pH values decreased significantly (P<.001) as fungal cells metabolised after 14 days of incubation. A. terreus recorded the lowest pH of 4.9 after 14 days of incubation. A. ochraceus had the highest pH value of 5.25 after 14 days of incubation on gasoline. Trichoderma sp had the lowest pH of 5.05 on gasoline. Of all the fungal isolates A. ochraceus had the highest viable count value of 6.26 on gasoline after 14 days of incubation. A. niger had the highest dry weight value of 19 on gasoline while Trichoderma sp. had the lowest dry weight value of 13.3 on gasoline. A. terreus recorded the highest dry weight value of 16.8 while A. niger had the lowest dry weight value of 13.3 on gasoline after the 14th day of incubation. Of all the fungal isolates used in this study A. ochraceus have shown the best abilities to utilise gasoline in-vitro. All the organisms used in this study are all indigenous to the environment from which they were isolated.