Survival of Penicillium species in marine and river water contaminated with diesel oil, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds

Abstract

It was established that species of Penicillium exposed to open water bodies did not perish immediately and are adaptable. Two species of Penicillium were able to grow under extremely high doses of diesel oil, although the growth of another two species were blocked at the lowest doses of diesel oil used in our experiments. Phosphates favored growth and survival of Penicillium when their level did not exceed 6.5 g per L water. Water contaminated by nitrates or nitrites at 0.2 to 2.0 g per L was not detrimental to the growth and survival of Penicillium species. The ability of Penicillium to use these compounds as a source of carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorus, as well as their survival period in the strongly contaminated marine and river water, strictly depended on the temperature of water, the level and character of pollution and the specificity of Penicillium species. Penicilliums investigated stayed alive in highly contaminated marine and river water from 2–3 months to more than one year.