Degradation of organic pollutants by the white rot basidiomycete Trametes trogii

The ability of the white rot basidiomycete Trametes trogii (strain BAFC 463) to degrade in vitro concentrations of 250-500 ppm of nitrobenzene and anthracene was analyzed. Within 12-24 days, more than 90% of the organic pollutants added to the fungal cultures were removed, as demonstrated by gas-liquid chromatography. Enzyme estimations indicated a high and relatively stable activity of laccase, as well as a lower production of manganese peroxidase. Laccase activity could be implicated in the degradation of these xenobiotic compounds by T. trogii. Earlier work showed that this fungus almost completely removed anthraquitione dyes and polychlorinated biphenyls. In view of the results obtained, this strain seems promising for detoxification. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.