Uptake and Toxicological Effects of Some Heavy Metals on Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer

The uptake of heavy metals at sublethal concentrations by the mycelia and sporocarps of an edible fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju was measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and their impact on growth, productivity, and cellular proteins was also studied. Mycelia demonstrated the lowest uptake of Co2+ (11 μg ml−1) acid Hg2+ (12 μg ml−1) and the highest uptake of Cu2+ (182 μg ml−1) and Cd2+ (178 μg ml−1). Sporocarps obtained from the substrate treated separately with Pb2+ (100 μg ml−1) and Cd2+ (6 μg ml−1) indicated a minimum and maximum uptake of Pb(2+) (7 μg g−1) and Cd2+ (33 μg g−1), respectively. Although Cu2+ and Cd2+ at 6 μg ml−1 indicated 41 and 93% growth reduction, Pb2+ and Hg2+ also caused more than 85% reduction of growth at 15 and 6 μg ml−1, respectively. Pb2+ reduced mycelial protein significantly (36%), but Hg2+ caused maximum reduction (30%) of proteins in sporocarps. Separate treatment of spawned substrate with test heavy metals reduced biological efficiency of sporocarp production, but markedly with Pb2+.