Evidence of pyrite dissolution by Telephora terrestris Ehrh in the Libiola mine (Sestri Levante, Liguria, Italy)

Grazia Cecchi; Simone Di Piazza; Pietro Marescotti; Mirca Zotti

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02210

Evidence of pyrite dissolution by Telephora terrestris Ehrh in the Libiola mine (Sestri Levante, Liguria, Italy)

Heliyon. 2019 Aug 2;5(8):e02210. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02210. eCollection 2019 Aug.

Authors

Grazia Cecchi¹, Simone Di Piazza¹, Pietro Marescotti², Mirca Zotti¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
² Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy.

Abstract

Evidence of pyrite dissolution by Telephora terrestris Ehrh were observed for the first time in the abandoned sulphide Libiola mine in May 2017 (Sestri Levante, Liguria, Italy). This fungus is an ectomycorrhizal species able to colonize this extreme environment and bioaccumulate metals such as copper and silver in its fruiting bodies, and it is known to establish symbiosis with maritime pines present in the area, thus favouring their recolonization of the site. This paper presents evidence of T. terrestris promoted dissolution of sulphide minerals. This species can remove from soil not only metals possibly toxic to the pine trees, but it can also contribute to the ions bioaccumulation through the bioweathering of sulphide mineral grains (especially pyrite).

Keywords: Environmental science.