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is particularly notable because it occurs at a rate of about 0.05 percent per day under laboratory conditions, and this process is significantly influenced by sunlight. Researchers noted that the fungus only breaks down polyethylene that has been exposed to UV light, indicating that in natural
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colony in a marine biological laboratory, where it was considered a possible contaminant. This fungus is not only common in natural settings but has also been noted for its ability to thrive in human-made environments, and can become pathogenic, particularly in individuals with weakened immune
198:, typically grows in moist or waste environments and can be found on common materials like paper, jute, linen, and painted walls. It reproduces through dry, hydrophobic conditions, using a type of
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that branch out and bear conidiogenous cells (the specialized cells where spores are formed). The spores themselves are smooth, round, and transparent. This fungus, originally described as
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species known for breaking down plastics and items of historical importance. Discoveries in the early 21st century revealed its presence in marine ecosystems, colonizing and breaking down
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that allows the fungus to spread through the air and colonize new areas. The fungus forms white, fluffy colonies that can be observed as having clear, colorless undersides. Under a
167:, the most abundant plastic in oceans. Marine microbiologists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and collaborators from various international institutions found
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likely affects plastics floating near the ocean surface. While the fungus converts most of the carbon from polyethylene into carbon dioxide, the environmental impact of this CO
214:(Limber, 1940), has undergone several taxonomic changes, initially included in a new genus created for species with verticillately branched conidiophores similar to those of
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326:"Parengyodontium album, a frequently reported fungal species in the cultural heritage environment"
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175:, living in thin biofilms on plastics scattered throughout the ocean. Though many types of
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is only one of four species of marine fungi known to have this capability as of 2024.
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release is minimal, akin to the amount exhaled by humans during breathing.
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452:"New Study Highlights the Role of Fungi in Plastic Degradation"
397:"Engyodontium album - Topics in Immunology and Microbiology"
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Leplat, Johann; François, Alexandre; Bousta, Faisl (2020).
478:"Marine fungus can break down floating plastic pollution"
423:"Scientists discover ocean fungus that eats plastic"
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224:-bearing portion. It was first isolated from a
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375:National Center for Biotechnology Information
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296:Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
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179:have been shown to break down plastics,
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617:30b56e75-b595-42e7-ac59-050276ed4eaa
429:. Salon Media Group Inc. 6 June 2024
220:but differing in their final zigzag
258:The degradation of polyethylene by
292:"Fungus Breaks Down Ocean Plastic"
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235:Breakdown of ocean plastics
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171:, along with other marine
159:is a globally distributed
147:(Limber) C.C. Tsang et al.
350:10.1016/j.fbr.2020.06.002
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32:Scientific classification
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694:Fungi described in 1940
330:Fungal Biology Reviews
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245:Mote Marine Laboratory
513:Parengyodontium album
260:Parengyodontium album
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192:Parengyodontium album
181:Parengyodontium album
156:Parengyodontium album
141:Parengyodontium album
25:Parengyodontium album
336:(3). Elsevier: 126.
342:2020FunBR..34..126L
458:. ScienceDaily LLC
371:"Taxonomy Browser"
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243:An exhibit at the
212:Tritirachium album
196:Engyodontium album
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638:Open Tree of Life
505:Taxon identifiers
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99:Cordycipitaceae
79:Sordariomycetes
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123:P. album
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689:Marine fungi
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217:Verticillium
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684:Plastivores
576:iNaturalist
227:Penicillium
187:Description
89:Hypocreales
673:Categories
528:Q104096027
403:. Elsevier
275:References
263:settings,
204:microscope
69:Ascomycota
65:Division:
253:jellyfish
231:systems.
117:Species:
55:Kingdom:
49:Eukaryota
589:MycoBank
550:Fungorum
522:Wikidata
487:June 14,
462:June 14,
433:June 14,
407:June 14,
381:June 14,
355:June 14,
302:June 14,
265:P. album
177:bacteria
173:microbes
169:P. album
95:Family:
45:Domain:
656:1415549
630:1415549
568:9657415
338:Bibcode
222:conidia
105:Genus:
85:Order:
75:Class:
614:NZOR:
594:815050
581:960391
555:815050
377:. NCBI
298:. NIOZ
208:hyphae
161:fungal
651:WoRMS
643:44265
607:37998
542:6TRHN
427:Salon
200:spore
59:Fungi
625:OBIS
602:NCBI
563:GBIF
489:2024
464:2024
435:2024
409:2024
383:2024
357:2024
304:2024
537:CoL
346:doi
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