Fungus Parengyodontium album

Source-This post on Fungus Parengyodontium album  has been created based on the article “Fungus Breaks Down Plastic Polyethylene in the Ocean” published in “Laborotary Equipment” on 6 June 2024.

Why in News?

Researchers discovered that the marine fungus Parengyodontium album can break down the plastic.

About Parengyodontium album

1. Parengyodontium album is a marine fungus capable of breaking down plastic polyethylene (PE) which is the most common plastic found in the ocean.

2. Discovery: This fungus was discovered by marine microbiologists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ).

3. Bioremediation Process: During the bioremediation process, PE-derived carbon is converted into the fungal biomass of Parengyodontium album, serving as its energy source.

4. Role of UV Light: Initial photodegradation of PE by UV sunlight is crucial for this process. This makes the fungus effective in degrading floating oceanic plastic litter.

5. Plastic Production: Humans produce over 400 billion kilograms of plastic annually, much of which ends up in the ocean.

6. Potential for Deeper Ocean: Fungi are considered the “masters of degradation” because they utilize a variety of digestive enzymes for breaking down materials, including plastic. Researchers expect that there could be more plastic-degrading fungi in the deeper parts of the ocean.