Biodegradation of lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) by the white-rot fungus Trametes hirsutus

The ability of the white-rot fungus Trametes hirsutus to degrade an insecti cide, lindane, in liquid culture aas investigated and compared with that of . Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes hirsutus degraded lindane faster th an P. chrysosporium but the mechanism of degradation appears to be the same in both. Two metabolites identified in both fungi were tetrachlorocyclohex ane and tetrachlorocyclohexanol. The presence of. lindane alone inside the mycelium ruled out the involvement of any intracellular enzyme(s) during th e initial step of lindane degradation. Lindane at a concentration of 0.27 m u mol l(-1) exhibited no adverse effect on fungal growth.