| dc.description.abstract | Plastic waste, including Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Linear-Low Density Polyethylene, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Polypropylene (PP), is predominantly found in landfill sites. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of fungi associated with plastic waste and their potential in plastic degradation. Plastic waste samples were collected from Terjun Landfill in Medan Marelan. Fungi were isolated directly from the plastic waste on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium and subsequently characterized using macroscopic and microscopic observations. Screening for plastic degradation potential was conducted by cultivating fungi on Mineral Salt Medium Agar (MSMA) supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) of plastic powder. Potential fungal isolates were molecularly identified using ITS-1F and ITS-4R primers. The plastic degradation potential was assessed by cultivating fungi on MSMA medium with 1x1 cm LDPE and LLDPE plastic sheets and in Mineral Salt Medium Broth (MSMB) containing plastic powder, both media supplemented with 0.5% glucose. The isolation yielded 24 different fungal isolates, and five isolates showed potential for plastic degradation based on their growth on MSMA medium: Fusarium solani (LDPE5), Botryosphaeria laricina (LLDPE10), Aspergillus fumigatus (HDPE1), Aspergillus flavus (HDPE3), and Aspergillus niger (PP5). Degradation tests on plastic sheets over 45 days revealed that Fusarium solani and Botryosphaeria laricina exhibited the highest degradation abilities, with degradation percentages of 20.83% and 6.49%, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed changes in the surface morphology of the plastic sheets, becoming rough and wrinkled. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis indicated the formation of new functional groups in the plastic sheets. | en_US |
