Fun Fungi Mini - Course at the University of Ottawa

s, arranged by last name of primary author Analysis of some nutritive and toxic elements in four species of wild edible mushrooms *Abercrombie, Troy D.(1), Riggle, Jeremy(2) 1.Eastern Oregon University, Ecology, 1325 V Ave, La Grande, OR, 97850, USA; 2.Eastern Oregon University, Chemistry Faculty, 1 University Blvd, La Grande, OR, 97850, USA Wild mushrooms have been gathered as a food source by humans for thousands of years and the practice remains popular all over the world today. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of 22 elements in four species of wild edible mushrooms common to northeastern Oregon and to quantify their concentrations. Elements investigated include K, P, Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Se, Si, Zn. Concentration values were then compared to those obtained from a cultivated species (Agaricus bisporus) that is commonly found in supermarkets. These values were also compared to daily intake recommendations by the Institute of Medicine to determine if these wild mushrooms are a good dietary source of nutritive elements and/or if they contained toxic concentrations of them. Analysis of mushrooms was performed using ICP-MS. Twelve of the 22 elements were not detected in any of the mushroom species (As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Se), while Mn and Si were found in some species but not others. Poster Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in spent and fresh cutting fluids polluted soils by a white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.)Fr.Kumm *Adenipekun, Dr.Clementina Oyinkansola(1), Ipeaiyeda, Dr Ayodele R(2), Egbewale , Samson O.(3) 1.University of Ibadan, Department of Botany, Ibadan, Oyo, 234, Nigeria; 2.University of Ibadan, Chemistry, Ibadan, Oyo, 234, Nigeria; 3.University of Ibadan, Botany, Ibadan, Oyo, 234, Nigeria In this study, the ability of Pleurotus ostreatus in the degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils contaminated with spent(SCF) and fresh cutting fluids (FCF) was investigated.A known weight of soil was contaminated with varying concentrations(10, 20,30 %) of SCF and FCF was inoculated with P. ostreatus, incubated at 28 ± 2°C for 2 months and analyzed in triplicates for 16 priority PAHs.The samples were analyzed using AP gas chromatogram model 6890 powered with HP chemstation Rev A. 09.01 (1206) software. Before inoculation (0 month), PAHs in the cutting fluids were mainly composed of 2 to 6 fused benzene rings. After 2 months of incubation, there were significant reductions in concentrations of PAHs in both SCF and FCF soils. The remaining total PAHs in SCF soil were 56.98%, 58.15% , 65.89% and 1.56%, 1.32%, 51.01% for FCF soil at 10 , 20 and 30 % respectively .The overall PAHs degradation of 98.44 %, 98.68%,48.99 % were obtained for FCF soils and 43.02 %, 41.85 % and 34.11 % for 10,20 and 30% SCF soils respectively. Also, among the individual PAHs, Benzo (a) pyrene in FCF soil contaminated soil had the highest PAHs reduction of 99.77% and 99.78% at 10 and 20% contamination. Conversely, highest PAHs reduction was observed in Benzo (g,h,i) perylene of SCF contaminated soil with 90.51%, 94.13%, 74.05% at 10, 20 and 30% concentrations .Thus, P. ostreatus is suitable as a potent agent for biodegradation of PAHs in contaminated soils. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The authors wish acknowledge the support of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Senate Research Grant SRG/FS/2010/19A for funding this Research. Contributed Presentation A study of the degradative potential of moulds isolated from the rhizosphere of three weeds (Commelina diffusa, Aspilia afr A study of the degradative potential of moulds isolated from the rhizosphere of three weeds (Commelina diffusa, Aspilia africana and Vernonia cinerea) *Adongbede, Erute Magdalene, Akinyeke, Oluwanifemi University of Lagos, Botany, University Road, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Lagos, 11011, Nigeria This study investigates the use of fungi in the root zones of weeds in Lagos for biodegradation purposes. The three weeds are Aspilia africana, Commelina diffusa and Vernonia cinerea. The fungi isolated from the root zones of these weeds include Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium brevicompactum, Aspergillus niger (black and yellow variety) Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus niger (white and black variety) and Trichoderma viride. These fungi were grown on separate media contaminated with crude and diesel fuel at different levels of contamination (5 and 10%) and non contaminated medium. Extraction of residual hydrocarbon was performed after growth of these fungi on the contaminated medium and weight of residual hydrocarbon compared with conInoculum 65(3), June 2014 17 Continued on following page