Abstract
A diesel degrading fungus was isolated from a diesel contaminated site in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia, and tentatively identified as Ulocladium atrum. Optimization studies using different concentrations of diesel in mineral liquid medium showed that the fungus can grow in all diesel concentrations. Diesel biodegradation and the effect of application frequency were investigated in soils artificially contaminated by diesel amended with mineral liquid medium. The contaminated soil was inoculated by the tested fungus and incubated at 37 degrees C for seven weeks. Supplementation of diesel degradation with mineral liquid medium resulted in a significant increase in diesel biodegradation. The characteristics of this fungus suggest that it is suitable for bioremediation of diesel contamination.