Oil-degrading capabilities of yeasts and fungi isolated from coastal marine environments

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Abstract
Seventy-four yeasts and 224 fungi were isolated from marine water and sediment samples taken from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and northern Puget Sound. When these isolates were grown in the presence of Prudhoe Bay crude oil, only three yeasts and 63 fungi were able to degrade some or all of the n-alkanes. None degraded the isoprenoids, pristane and phytane. Forty-seven isolates were identified as Penicillium species and of these, 39 attacked the n-alkanes in the crude oil. Twelve organisms which degrade n-alkanes were tested for their ability to mineralize [14C]naphthalene and [14C]phenanthrene which had been added to the crude oil. No 14CO2 was detected from any of the cultures containing these compounds. Capillary gas chromatographic analyses of the aromatic fractions from these 12 cultures showed no loss of hydrocarbons or sulfur hetero-cycles, indicating that they were unable to completely or partially oxidize any of the resolvable compounds in this fraction.