Diuron degradation by Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM- F-1767 in synthetic and natural media

When incubated in synthetic (N-limited) medium and on ashwood chips, Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 degraded 14 and 10 mg/l diuron, respectively. The wood chips were used as support and sole nutrient source for the fungus. A higher degradation efficiency was found in ashwood culture as compared to the liquid culture, probably as a result of the synergetic effect of attached fungal growth, presence of limiting-substrate conditions and the microenvironment provided by ashwood, all favorable for production of high extracellular enzyme titres. Diuron degradation occured during the idiophasic growth, in the presence of manganese peroxidase, detected as dominant enzyme in both cultures.