A Preliminary Study on the Potential Biodegrading Ability of Xylaria sp. on Natural Rubber, Chicken Feather, and Polystyrene Through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Abstract

The potential biodegrading ability of the Xylaria sp. strains on three pollutants, namely, natural rubber, chicken feather and polystyrene were determined in terms of colonization. The fungal strains namely the wild type, SDM (sterile dark mycelia) and the five mutant strains (PNL 114, PNL 116, PNL 118, E26 and E35) were cultured in a pH 5.0 mineral medium with 0.5% glucose as carbon source, while the 3 pollutant substrates as co-carbon source, and stored at 25°C. The initial weights of the pollutants were measured before inoculation. After 50 days of incubation, the pollutants were removed from the medium and weights were again measured to determine percent weight loss, a method that would measure utilization of the pollutant samples. But instead of constant weight loss, weight gains resulted, which could be attributed to the adherence and penetration of mycelia of the Xylaria sp. strains in the three pollutant substrates. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed colonization of Xylaria sp. strain on natural rubber, chicken feather and polystyrene. Generally, the black strains, namely the SDM wild type. E26 and E35, have been observed to possess a higher potential to biodegrade natural rubber, chicken feather and polystyrene than the albino mutants PNL. 114, 116 and 118. Among the black variant strains, E26 has shown the greatest biodegrading potential for natural rubber, nonetheless the albino mutants also showed potential to biodegrade this substrate. Polystyrene was effectively colonized by the three black strains SDM wild type, E26 and E35, nonetheless the albino mutants also showed potential ability to biodegrade this substrate. Chicken feathers were colonized by the SDM and E35 but may require a longer incubation period for degradation.