*2.2. Inoculum Preparation*

The liquid medium flasks (20 mL final volume) were inoculated with fungal cultures grown on PDA plates supplemented with chloramphenicol by aseptically transferring a

block of mycelium and spores (5 <sup>×</sup> 5 mm<sup>2</sup> area) of the plate culture into the flasks [20]. Three different growth media were tested: PDB medium (DIFCO, Wuerzburg, Germany) having the same composition as the PDA but without agar; malt extract medium (DIFCO, Wuerzburg, Germany) containing malt extract, 6 g/L, maltose, 1.8 g/L, dextrose, 6 g/L, and yeast extract, 1.2 g/L; paper mill wastewater, supplied by a local company. The cultures were incubated at 28 ◦C, 120 rpm for up to 96 h. All tests were carried out in triplicate for statistical significance.
