Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by white rot-fungus Pseudotrametes gibbosa isolated from the boreal forest in Northeast China

Abstract

This study compared laccase production and the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by  aboriginal white rot-fungus Pseudotrametes gibbosa (found in the northeast forest area of China) and Pleurotus ostreatus (which has been studied both domestically in China and overseas). The results showed that the laccase activity of P. gibbosa was 2841.3 U/l, which was 6 times more than that of P. ostreatus under the same culture conditions. The degradation of Anthracene and pyrene induced by P. gibbosa were 43.43 and 24.26%, while the removal efficiencies induced by P. ostreatus were only 30.12 and 18.76%. The results also showed a positive correlation between the PAHs degradation and laccase activity, and Pseudotrametes gibbosa had significant potential due to its higher laccase production and more potent degradation of PAHs. This study provides technical support for pollution amelioration using aboriginal white-rot fungus.

Key words: White-rot fungus, laccase, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, degradation.