EFFECT OF CADMIUM ON THE LIGNINOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF STEREUM-HIRSUTUM AND PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM

An inhibitory effect of cadmium on the growth and ligninolytic activit y of the wood-rotting basidiomycetes Phanerochrete chrysosporium, Pleu rotus ostreatus, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Stereum hirsutum was obse rved. Delayed decolorization of the polymeric dye Poly R-478 was obser ved in samples with 0.10 mmol/L Cd. Addition of 0.25 mmol/L Cd to the cultivation medium strongly reduced the activity of both Mn-dependent and Mn-independent peroxidases of Stereum hirsutum, while the activity of laccase was not affected to a similar extent. The maximum of MnP a ctivity in these samples was found during the exponential phase of gro wth whereas control samples showed the highest activity after the onse t of the stationary phase (days 15-21). Cadmium at concentrations high er than 0.50 mmol/L significantly inhibited the activity of all enzyme s tested in both S. hirsutum and P. chrysosporium.