BIODEGRADATION OF PENTACHLOROPHENOL BY MICROMYCETES .3. DEUTEROMYCETES

A third study on the biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) (100 mg L-1) by micromycetes was done with 784 strains of Deuteromycetes cult ivated in liquid synthetic medium. The disappearance of PCP after 5 da ys of cultivation was compared with POx production. Mean PCP depletion was 56% for Agonomycetales, 60% for Coelomycetes, 51% for Dematiaceae , 52% for Mucedinaceae (other than Aspergillus and Penicillium), 56 an d 57%, respectively, for Aspergillus and Penicillium, and 42% for Tube rculariales. Although some genera gave homogeneous results (Ascochyta, Aspergillus, Coniothyrium, Penicillium), a great variability was obse rved as well in PCP depletion as in POx production, reflecting the het erogeneity of this artificial taxonomic group. With a few exceptions, correlation between POx production and PCP disappearance was low or no nexistent, Another factor, probably not enzymatic, could be involved. (C) 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.