A novel approach had been carried out to develop fungal consortium, namely, RH-2, containing two marine procured fungal isolates in order to evaluate biodegradation of recalcitrant diazo dye Congo red. The fungi were isolated from the seacoast of Diu, India. According to the ITS sequencing, the strains were identified as Penicillium oxalicum (DS-2) and Aspergillus tubingensis (DS-4). Discs of 12 mm were cut out from the edge of both the fungal isolates (DS-2 and DS-4) and inoculated in flasks consisting of potato dextrose broth with 100 mg/L Congo red for the development of fungal consortium RH-2. The degradation by the fungal consortium RH-2 was more effective than the fungal monocultures DS-2 and DS-4 with the respective degradation reaching 97.15 ± 0.15%, 68.96 ± 0.09%, and 29.96 ± 0.21% in addition of yeast extract (1% w/v) within 12 h. The influence of dextrose (1% w/v), yeast extract (1% w/v), pH 5, and salt concentration (1% w/v) enhanced the degradation potential of fungal consortium RH-2. The maximal degradation was correlated with the production of laccase (12.498 ± 0.21 U/mL) and manganese peroxidase (10.314 ± 0.25 U/mL). The catabolism of Congo red was confirmed by UV-Visible spectroscopic analysis (Congo red λ-max = 499 nm) and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The filtrates obtained after Congo red degradation were also evaluated for microbial toxicity against bacteria (Bacillus haynesii) and phytotoxicity analysis on plant seed (Trigonella foenum) which revealed that the filtrate acquired after the treatment of Congo red by fungal consortium RH-2 was less toxic than the original dye in nature. A novel aspect is determined by the evidence of mutualistic interaction between two different fungi for the rapid decolorization and degradation of dye providing a prospective of utilizing the developed consortium RH-2 as a cost-effective approach in textile wastewater treatment for cleaner environment.

Department of Life Sciences Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University Patan Gujarat 384265 India

See more in PubMed

Abd El-Rahim WM, Moawad H, Abdel Azeiz AZ, Sadowsky MJ (2017) Optimization of conditions for decolorization of azo-based textile dyes by multiple fungal species. J Biotechnol 260:11–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.08.022 PubMed DOI

Allen RLM (1971) The chemistry of azo dyes. Colour Chemistry Studies in Modern Chemistry. Springer, Boston, MA, pp 21–36 DOI

Asgher M, Bhatti HN, Ashraf M, Legge RL (2008) Recent developments in biodegradation of industrial pollutants by white rot fungi and their enzyme system. Biodegradation 19:771–783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-008-9185-3 PubMed DOI

Asgher M, Bhatti HN, Shah SAH, Asad MJ, Legge RL (2007) Decolorization potential of mixed microbial consortia for reactive and disperse textile dyestuffs. Biodegradation 18:311–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-006-9065-7 PubMed DOI

Asses N, Ayed L, Hkiri N, Hamdi M (2018) Congo Red decolorization and detoxification by Aspergillus niger: removal mechanisms and dye degradation pathway. BioMed Res Int 2018:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3049686 DOI

Bankole PO, Adekunle AA, Govindwar SP (2018) Enhanced decolorization and biodegradation of acid red 88 dye by newly isolated fungus Achaetomium strumarium. J Environ Chem Eng 6:1589–1600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2018.01.069 DOI

Benkhaya S, M’rabet S, El Harfi A, (2020) Classifications properties recent synthesis and applications of azo dyes. Heliyon 6:e03271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03271 PubMed DOI PMC

Chang JS, Kuo TS (2000) Kinetics of bacterial decolorization of azo dye with Escherichia coli NO3. Bioresour Technol 75:107–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-8524(00)00049-3 DOI

Chatterjee S, Dey S, Sarma M, Chaudhuri P, Das S (2020) Biodegradation of Congo red by Manglicolous filamentous fungus Aspergillus Flavus jksc-7 isolated from Indian Sundabaran Mangrove Ecosystem. Appl Biochem Microbiol 56(6):708–717. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0003683820060046 DOI

Cruz-Ornelas R, Sánchez-Vázquez JE, Amaya-Delgado L, Guillén-Navarro K, Calixto-Romo A (2019) Biodegradation of NSAIDs and their effect on the activity of ligninolytic enzymes from Pleurotus djamor. 3 Biotech 9(10):373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-019-1904-4

D’Souza E, Fulke AB, Mulani N, Ram A, Asodekar M, Narkhede N, Gajbhiye SN (2017) Decolorization of Congo red mediated by marine Alcaligenes species isolated from Indian West coast sediments. Environ Earth Sci 76:721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7077-8 DOI

Daâssi D, Rodríguez-Couto S, Nasri M, Mechichi T (2014) Biodegradation of textile dyes by immobilized laccase from Coriolopsis gallica into Ca-alginate beads. Int Biodeterio Biodegradation 90:71–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.02.006 DOI

Das A, Mishra S (2017) Removal of textile dye reactive green-19 using bacterial consortium: Process optimization using response surface methodology and kinetics study. J Environ Chem Eng 5:612–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2016.10.005 DOI

Guo G, Li X, Tian F, Liu T, Yang F, Ding K, Liu C, Chen J, Wang C (2020) Azo dye decolorization by a halotolerant consortium under microaerophilic conditions. Chemosphere 244:125–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125510 DOI

Hulikere MM, Joshi CG (2019) Characterization, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using marine endophytic fungus- Cladosporium cladosporioides. Process Biochem 82:199–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2019.04.011 DOI

Ilyas S, Rehman A (2013) Decolorization and detoxification of Synozol red HF-6BN azo dye by Aspergillus niger and Nigrospora sp. Iranian J Environ Health Sci Eng 10(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1735-2746-10-12 DOI

Jadhav J, Kalyani D, Telke A, Phugare S, Govindwar S (2010) Evaluation of the efficacy of a bacterial consortium for the removal of color reduction of heavy metals and toxicity from textile dye effluent. Bioresour Technol 101:165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.027 PubMed DOI

Jain K, Shah V, Chapla D, Madamwar D (2012) Decolorization and degradation of azo dye – Reactive Violet 5R by an acclimatized indigenous bacterial mixed cultures-SB4 isolated from anthropogenic dye contaminated soil. J Hazard Mater 213–214:378–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.02.010 PubMed DOI

Jasim B, Thomas R, Mathew J, Radhakrishnan EK (2017) Plant growth and diosgenin enhancement effect of silver nanoparticles in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Saudi Pharma J 25:443–447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2016.09.012 DOI

Krishnamoorthy R, Jose PA, Ranjith M, Anandham R, Suganya K, Prabhakaran J, Thiyageshwari S, Johnson J, Gopal NO, Kumutha K (2018) Decolourisation and degradation of azo dyes by mixed fungal culture consisted of Dichotomomyces cejpii MRCH 1–2 and Phoma tropica MRCH 1–3. J Environ Chem Eng 6:588–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2017.12.035 DOI

Kunjadia PD, Sanghvi GV, Kunjadia AP, Mukhopadhyay PN, Dave GS (2016) Role of ligninolytic enzymes of white rot fungi (Pleurotus spp.) grown with azo dyes. Springer plus 5:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-3156-7 DOI

Lade HS, Waghmode TR, Kadam AA, Govindwar SP (2012) Enhanced biodegradation and detoxification of disperse azo dye Rubine GFL and textile industry effluent by defined fungal-bacterial consortium. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 72:94–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.06.001 DOI

Lafi R, Montasser I, Hafiane A (2018) Adsorption of congo red dye from aqueous solutions by prepared activated carbon with oxygen-containing functional groups and its regeneration. Adsorpt Sci Technol 37:160–181. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263617418819227 DOI

Lourenço N, Novais J, Pinheiro H (2000) Reactive textile dye colour removal in a sequencing batch reactor. Water Sci Technol 42:321–328. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2000.0531 DOI

Mahmood R, Sharif F, Ali S, Hayyat MU (2015) Enhancing the decolorizing and degradation ability of bacterial consortium isolated from textile effluent affected area and its application on seed germination. Sci World J 2015:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/628195 DOI

Mistry H, Thakor R, Patil C, Trivedi J, Bariya H (2021) Biogenically proficient synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles employing marine procured fungi Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus along with their antibacterial and antioxidative potency. Biotechnol Lett 43:307–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-020-03008-7 PubMed DOI

Mohanty SS, Kumar A (2021) Enhanced degradation of anthraquinone dyes by microbial monoculture and developed consortium through the production of specific enzymes. Sci Rep 11:7678. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87227-6 PubMed DOI PMC

Moosvi S, Kher X, Madamwar D (2007) Isolation, characterization and decolorization of textile dyes by a mixed bacterial consortium JW-2. Dyes Pigm 74:723–729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2006.05.005 DOI

Pandey A, Singh P, Iyengar L (2007) Bacterial decolorization and degradation of azo dyes. Int Biodeter Biodegr 59:73–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2006.08.006 DOI

Sarkar S, Banerjee A, Halder U, Biswas R, Bandopadhyay R (2017) Degradation of synthetic azo dyes of textile industry: A sustainable approach using microbial enzymes. Water Conserv Sci Eng 2:121–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41101-017-0031-5 DOI

Saroj S, Dubey S, Agarwal P, Prasad R, Singh RP (2015) Evaluation of the efficacy of a fungal consortium for degradation of azo dyes and simulated textile dye effluents. Sustain Water Resour Manag 1:233–243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-015-0027-2 DOI

Saroj S, Kumar K, Pareek N, Prasad R, Singh R (2014) Biodegradation of azo dyes Acid Red 183, Direct Blue 15 and Direct Red 75 by the isolate Penicillium oxalicum SAR-3. Chemosphere 107:240–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.12.049 PubMed DOI

Singh RL, Singh PK, Singh RP (2015) Enzymatic decolorization and degradation of azo dyes – A review. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 104:21–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2015.04.027 DOI

Waghmode TR, Kurade MB, Kabra AN, Govindwar SP (2012) Degradation of Remazol Red dye by Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360 leading to increased iron uptake in Sorghum vulgare and Phaseolus mungo from soil. Biotechnol Bioproc 17:117–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-011-0307-0 DOI

Wang N, Chu Y, Wu F, Zhao Z, Xu X (2017) Decolorization and degradation of Congo red by a newly isolated white rot fungus Ceriporia lacerata from decayed mulberry branches. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 117:236–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.12.015 DOI

Yin Q, Zhou G, Peng C, Zhang Y, Kües U, Liu J, Xiao Y, Fang Z (2019) The first fungal laccase with an alkaline pH optimum obtained by directed evolution and its application in indigo dye decolorization. AMB Express 9:151. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-019-0878-2 PubMed DOI PMC