INTRASPECIFIC PROTOPLAST FUSION OF CANDIDA-TROPICALIS FOR ENHANCING PHENOL DEGRADATION

Auxotrophic mutants and phenol-degrading defective mutants were separa tely isolated in a phenolutilizing strain of Candida tropicalis M4, an d were hybridized through protoplast fusion. Some protoplast fusants w ith phenol-degrading ability were obtained and were very stable. Two o f the fusants exhibited slightly higher rates of growth than did the w ild strain when the cells were grown on phenol medium, and they posses sed about 1.9 and 2.2 times respectively higher phenol hydroxylase act ivity than the wild strain.