THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND CULTURE-MEDIUM ON THE DEGRADATIVE ACTIVITY OF PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM EVALUATED USING 3 QUALITATIVE SCREENING METHODS

The lignin-degrading ability of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (1547) and (1556) is well established and thus qualitative screening tests for l ignin degradation should indicate that they are capable of carrying ou t this function. In this report we show the high degree of dependence of these qualitative screening methods on temperature and, more import antly, growth medium. Under certain conditions such qualitative screen ing tests utilising gallic acid, guaiacol and Remazol brilliant blue R will give reactions that would suggest thai these two white-rot funga l strains are not lignin degraders.