Comparison of Iodide and Iodate Accumulation and Volatilization by Filamentous Fungi during Static Cultivation

Five common fungal strains, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus clavatus, Penicillium citrinum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata, were cultivated in presence of iodide and iodate to evaluate their efficiency in iodine biovolatilization and bioaccumulation. Our results suggest that iodide and iodate bioaccumulation by microscopic filamentous fungi is similar although the biological transformation into volatile iodine compounds is driven by various pathways resulting in higher volatilization efficiency of iodate. Thus, the mobilization of iodate by filamentous fungi is superior to iodide mobilization. Our paper is also the first to compare the iodide and iodate volatilization efficiency by microorganisms. Our results highlight the significant role of filamentous fungi in biogeochemistry of iodine, especially in formation of environmentally reactive volatile forms that may contribute to ozone layer destruction.