Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Survey of some Indian soils for laccase producing fungi and their lignin degrading ability

  • Published:
Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

One hundred and fifty soil samples collected from three climatologically different sites were screened for laccase production using lignin-guaiacol agar plates. All the 12 fungi isolated excepting one gave positive test for qualitative lignin degradation. Five fungi were selected further for quantitative study of wood/lignin degradation. The basidiomycetes proved to be better laccase producers and decomposers of wood/lignin. These gave comparable results to a known white-rot fungus,Polyporus versicolor (L.) Fr. and degraded wood sawdust causing a total weight loss of 7–8% and lignin loss up to 10% in 30 days.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ander P and Eriksson K E 1976 The importance of phenoloxidase activity in lignin degradation by the whiterot fungusSporotrichum pulverulentum;Arch. Microbiol. 109 1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ander P and Eriksson K E 1978 Lignin degradation and utilization by microorganisms;Prog. Indian Microbiol. 14 1–58

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barron G L 1972The genera of hyphomycetes from soil (New York: Robert E Krieger Publishing Company)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bavendamm W 1928 Uber des vorkommen und den Nachweis von oxydasin bei Holzzerstorenden Pilzen;Ze. Pflanzenkrankheiten und Pflanzenschutz. 38 257–276

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boidin J 1951 Recherche de la tyrosinase et de la laccase chez les Basidiomycetes en culturepure. Milieuse differentiels. Interret Systematique;Rev. Mycol. 16 173–197

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson R W, Campbell W A and Blaisdell D J 1938 Differentiation of wood decaying fungi by their reactions on gallic and tannic acid medium;J. Agric. Res. (USA) 57 683–695

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Effland M J 1977 Modified procedure to determine acid insoluble lignin in wood and pulp;Tappi 60 143–144

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis M B 1971 Dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis M B 1976 More dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Eslyn W E, Kirk T K and Effland M J 1975 Changes in the chemical composition of wood caused by six softrot fungi;Phytopathology 65 473–476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fahraeus G 1949 On the oxidation of phenolic compounds by woodrotting fungi;Ann. R. Agric. Coll. Sweden 16 618–629

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fahraeus G, Tullander V and Ljungren H 1958 Production of high laccase yields in cultures of fungi;Physiol. Plant 11 631–643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haider K and Trojanowski J 1981 A comparison of the degradation of14C-labelledDHP and corn stalk lignins by micro- and macro-fungi and by bacteria inLignin biodegradation: Microbiology, chemistry and potential applications (eds) T K Kirk, T Higuchi and H Chang (Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press) Vol 1 pp. 111–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Harkin J M and Obst J R 1973 Syringaldazine an effective reagent for detecting laccase and peroxidase in fungi;Experientia 29 381–387

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Higuchi T 1982 Biodegradation of lignin: Biochemistry and potential applications;Experientia 38 159–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk T K and Chang H M 1975 Decomposition of lignin by white-rot fungi. II. Characterization of heavily degraded lignins from decayed spruce;Holzforschung 29 56–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk T K and Harkin J M 1973 Lignin biodegradation and the bioconversion of wood. Forest products and the environment;Alche. Symp. Ser. 69 124–134

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk T K and Kelman A 1965 Lignin degradation as related to the phenoloxidases of selected wood decaying basidiomycetes;Phytopathology 55 739–745

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindeberg G 1948 On the occurrence of polyphenoloxidases in soil inhabiting basidiomycetes;Physiol. Plant 1 196–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nobles M K 1958 A rapid test for extracellular oxidase in cultures of wood inhabiting hymenomycetes;Can. J. Bot. 36 91–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norris D M 1980 Degradation of14C-labelled lignins and14C-labelled aromatic acids byFusarium solani;Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 40 376–380

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg S L 1980 Patterns of diffusibility of lignin and carbohydrate degrading systems in wood-rotting fungi;Mycologia 72 798–812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandhu D K and Arora D S 1984 Laccase production byPolyporus versicolor on different substrates;Acta Biotechnol. 4 49–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundman V and Nase L 1971 A simple plate test for direct visualization of biological lignin degradation;Pap. Puu. 53 67–71

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westermark U and Eriksson K E 1974 Carbohydrate dependent enzymic quinone reduction during lignin degradation;Acta Chem. Scand. B28 204–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zadrazil F 1977 The conversion of straw into feed by basidiomycetes;Eur. J. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 4 273–281

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zadrazil F 1980 Conversion of different plant waste into feed by basidiomycetes;Eur. J. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 9 243–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Guru Nanak Dev University, 143 005, Amritsar, India

    D S Arora & D K Sandhu

Authors
  1. D S Arora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D K Sandhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arora, D.S., Sandhu, D.K. Survey of some Indian soils for laccase producing fungi and their lignin degrading ability. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 94, 567–574 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053224

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053224

Keywords

Search

Navigation