Degradation of insecticide lindane (gamma-HCH) by white-rot fungi Cyathus bulleri and Phanerochaete sordida

The degradation of the insecticide lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, ga mma-HCH) by two white-rot fungi, Cyathus bulleri and Phanerochaete sordida, was studied. C bulleri degraded lindane more efficiently than P sordida. T wo degradative intermediates identified in P sordida culture were tetrachlo rocyclohexene and tetrachlorocyclohexanol. However, tetrachlorocyclohexanol was the sole degradation product detected in cultures of C bulleri. The pr esence of lindane only inside the mycelial cells of both fungi eliminated a ny role of intracellular enzymes during initial steps of its degradation. T he insecticide at 0.27 mu M showed no adverse effect on fungal growth. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.