In this study, hydrocarbon degradation potentials of indigenous fungal species were investigated employing colonial morphologies and molecular techniques. Soil samples were collected from Saakpenwa community, Tai L.G.A, Rivers State, an oil exploration zone of the Niger Delta, Nigeria which was later prepared for laboratory analyses. Nine (9) fungal isolates were screened for hydrocarbon biodegradation potentials in a shake-flask culture incorporated with 1% crude oil (hydrocarbon), redox reagent (2% 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenols) and 0.1 % Tween 80 for 14 days. Among the nine fungal isolates, eight showed potentials for hydrocarbon degradation employing colour change, optical density and THC for 14 days.  Five of the isolates exhibited the fastest onset and highest extent of biodegradation and were selected for further identification following polymerase chain reaction using 5'TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG 3ʹ and 5ʹGCTGCGTTCTTCATCGATGC 3ʹ and were identified as: Aspergillus japonicus, Yarrowia lipolytica  YPY 01, Yarrowia lipolytica ATCC 9773, Zygorrhinchus sp.(1) and Zygorrhinchus sp.(2) respectively. In this study, it was observed that a higher THC biodegradation efficiency was exhibited by Yarrowia lipolytica ATCC 9773 and Zygorrhinchus sp.(2). This indicated that these fungal species are efficient hydrocarbon degraders. Thus, they can be considered in strain development programme for biodegradation of oil polluted farm lands (soil) especially those located within the sampled sites.

Keywords: Hydrocarbon, fungal species, Saakpenwa community