Correlation of Ligninolytic Enzymes from the Newly-Found Species Trametes versicolor U97 with RBBR Decolorization and DDT Degradation

Abstract

Thirty strains of fungi collected from nature were investigated for their ability to grow on agar medium contaminated with Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT). The results showed that strain U97, later identified as Trametes versicolor, was the most active decomposer. This fungus decolorized 85 % of RBBR in 6 h and degraded 71 % of DDT in 30 days. In RBBR decolorization, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that two peaks were identified as metabolic products. Among inducers for ligninolytic enzymes, only veratryl alcohol improved RBBR decolorization and DDT degradation by 93 % and 77 %, respectively. A partial least squares method using Minitab 15 showed that lignin peroxidase exhibited a positive correlation to the abilities of T. versicolor U97 to decolorize RBBR and degrade DDT. A multivariate linear equation, with the same values of ligninolytic activity during RBBR decolorization and DDT degradation, revealed that 1 % RBBR decolorization represented 1.16 % DDT degradation. Screening with agar or liquid medium and improvement of the mathematical modeling could have practical importance in the exploitation of T. versicolor U97 for the removal of DDT on a commercial scale.