Screening for decolorizing basidiomycetes in Mexico

A survey to isolate native white rot basidiomycetes from Northeast Mexico was conducted in the forests of the Sierra Madre Oriental in the state of Nuevo León. A total of 92 isolates from at least 20 different genera, were screened on Bran-Flakes solid plate cultures for the production of ligninolytic oxidases and/or peroxidases with guaiacol and o-anisidine as substrates; their lignin depolymerizing potential using the polymeric dye Poly R 478; their ability to decolorize anthraquinonic (Remazol Brilliant Blue Reactive), azo (Acid Red 44) and triphenylmethane (Crystal Violet) dyes. Among all fungi tested, 15 isolates showed extensive decolorization of the three dyes within a week and gave a positive reaction in guaiacol and o-anisidine tests. Nine of them were also efficient degraders of Poly R-478. Two isolates (CS5 and CU1) showed decolorization of all dyes within 5 days, comparing favorably with reference strains of P. chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Bjerkandera adusta. Decolorization was associated with laccase activity in both isolates and reached 90% or more for all dyes within 24 h in 8-day-old liquid cultures. The coupling of pairs 2,4-dichlorophenol + 4-aminoantipyrine and 3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid + 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone, strongly suggest that the laccases of both strains correspond to those considered of high redox potential. These strains are considered good candidates for bioremediation of dye polluted effluents due to their ligninolytic potential and decolorizing performance.