Dye decolorization by sub-tropical basidiomycetous fungi and the effect ofmetals on decolorizing ability

White-rot basidiomycetous fungi from sub-tropical forests plus a Phanerocha ete chrysosporium control were able to decolorize several azo, triphenylmet hane and heterocyclic/polymeric dyes over 14 days. The effects of metal ion s on decolorizing ability towards the dye Poly-R varied. Two sub-tropical s trains were capable of decolorization in the presence of up to 0.25 mM Cd2, Cu2+ and Zn2+, whereas decolorization by P. chrysosporium was completely inhibited by all metals at concentrations as low as 0.1 mM. In all cases de colorizing ability was more sensitive than biomass production to metal inhi bition.