In this work, the in vitro species of Pleurotus (P.eringii, P. cornucopiae and P. ostreatus), from structures of degraded wood have been studied. This degradative activity was compared to those presented by Trametes versicolor (fungus characteristic of white rot) and Gloeophyllum trabeum (fungus representative of brown rot). The activities studied were the following: cellulase, xylanase, pectinase, lactase, and manganese peroxidase. In order to determine the influence of the source of carbon on these activities, the following substrates were used individually: glucose, glucose with dimethylsulfoxide, xylan, pectin, and 1% (w/v) cellulose in a basal medium of mineral salts. The results obtained indicate that none of the species of Pleurotus studied show degradative activity in cellulose comparable to that of Gloeophyllum trabeum. The hemicellulytic activities, xylanase, and pectinase were much higher in Pleurotus eringii in relation to the two standard strains tested. The results related to the ligninolytic activities showed that the one corresponding to laccase was much higher in Trametes versicolor. Dimethylsulfoxide acts as an inductor of the manganese peroxidase activity, above all, in Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus eringii , which presented higher degradative activities than Trametes versicolor in the culture medium supplemented with the inductor. In conclusion, it can be said that Pleurotus eringii shows degrading capacity on the hemicellulose which is higher than the standard strains; and Pleurotus eringii and Pleurotus cornucopiae show manganese peroxidase activities of the same order or higher than Trametes versicolor, depending on the substrates.

Download document (838 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document