FIRST DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT AND SYNTHETIC DYES REMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF AQUATIC MICROMYCETES FROM AIN SKHOUNA WETLAND, WESTERN STEPPE OF ALGERIA

. A first exploration of aquatic microfungal diversity was conducted in Ain Skhouna wetland, a part of Echott Ech Chergui (Algeria), the second largest chott in North Africa. Fungal strains isolation was carried out from water and sediment samples during 2019.Physico-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, and salinity)were measured in situ as well. Firstfungal strains identification wascarried out by cultural and structural features. A total of 14 monoclonal fungi strains belonging to 7 genera were distinguished where the majority of which belong to the phylum Ascomycota. Among these, the genus Halobyssothecium that was recorded for the first time in Algeria . Occurrence percentage frequency of different taxa showedhigher density of microfungal colonies in sediment compared to water. Through molecular barcoding successfully completed for 11 strains by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region sequencing, 5 strains were assigned to the species level and 6 to the Section or Complex within the correspondent genus. Authenticated strains based on ITS barcode were then screened for extracellular laccases production for mycoremediation assay, where 8 of them were laccases positive with strong activity exhibited by Aspergillus sp. AS02 and Penicillium sp. AS13 strains. All positive laccases strains were further investigated for their synthetic dyes decolorization ability using « Plate Volume Method » (PVM) to evaluate Congo Red, Brilliant Blue, and Malachite Green dyes decolorization activity at three concentrations, highlighting dyes biodegradation mechanisms used by each strain. Dyes decolorization seems more related to fungal laccases activity than biosorption or accumulation mechanisms. Aspergillus sp. AS02 and Penicillium sp. AS13 strains seem to be good dyes decolorizing candidates by biodegradation. Furthermore, Fusarium acuminatum AS07 showed significant biosorption activity, while Penicillium spp . generally expressed a good dyes accumulation potential. Therefore, identified and studied fungal strains could be used as promising tools for bioremediation of wastewater dyes and industrial effluents enclosing synthetic dyes.