DIVERSITY IN PHENOL-METABOLIZING CAPABILITY OF 809 STRAINS OF MICROMYCETES

The property of 809 strains of micromycetes to grow in the presence of phenol (0.5 g/l) was investigated on solid media. Toxicity was determ ined on malt extract agar medium. Growth of the fungal strains on synt hetic solid medium with phenol as the sole carbon source allowed evalu ation of phenol consumption. Only 61 strains (8% of the whole) grew we ll under both conditions, which reflects the toxicity of 0.5 g/l of ph enol upon micromycetes. Finally, Phanerochaete chrysosporium was chose n and cultivated in liquid synthetic medium at 24 degrees C and 37 deg rees C with phenol (0.5 g/l). It consumed phenol fast and efficiently. Growth temperature was a key parameter. Catechol, cis-cis-muconic aci d and beta-keto-adipate were characterized and quantified.