Uptake and bioremediation of heavy metals through cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and growth potential in contaminated substrates

Remediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals has received considerable attention in recent years. In this study, the heavy metal uptake potential of the mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, was studied in artificially contaminated button mushroom substrate (in-vivo) and compost (in-vitro) with ten heavy metals viz: copper, zinc, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, aluminum, magnesium, manganese and cobalt in the form of sulphate at concentration of 10, 25, 50 and 100 ppm. Mycelial growth of fungi can tolerate heavy metals toxicity upto 50 ppm except AsSO4 whereas higher concentration (100 ppm) of salts CuSO4, ZnSO4 and MnSo4 found toxic for mycelial growth. Total mushroom yield decreases with an increasing concentration of the heavy metals. Heavy metal accumulation in mycelium varied significantly with the type of metal and total concentration of metals in the inoculated substrate. Moreover, it was observed that Agaricus bisporus is efficient in absorbing or accumulation of all taken heavy metals. These results suggested that Agaricus bisporus may be effective in promoting the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated substrates.