Phytotoxicity Analysis of Different Carpet Dyes and their Fungal Extracted Metabolites (Fungal Degraded Products) through Relative Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Parameters

To assess the phytotoxicity of five different carpet dyes viz. Methyl Red, Methyl Orange, Erichrome Black, Crystal Violet and Malachite Green and their extracted metabolites, (degraded products) an experiment was set up, in which the seeds of Hordeum vulgare var. RD 2508 were germinated to assess the comparative toxicity of the dye against its degraded/extracted metabolites by the potent degrader fungal strain Aspergillus niger. All the dyes displayed a unique and uniform behavior. The results with the control (DD H₂O) group were the best, followed by the extract group and then the dye group. Best results of germination and seedling growth parameters on Hordeum vulgare were obtained with Methyl Orange dye and the least results were obtained with Malachite Green dye.

Although all the carpet dyes, showed variable results among the ischolar_main length, shoot length and dry weight, that indicated their differential toxic behavior towards the seedling germination and seedling growth. The overall pattern indicated that the degraded products or metabolites were undoubtedly less toxic than the dyes themselves.