Screening of micro-organisms for decolorization of melanins produced by bluestain fungi

A total of 17 fungi and four bacteria were screened for their ability to de colorize melanin, using isolated extracellular melanin of the bluestain fun gus Aureobasidium pullulans as substrate. On agar media, decolorization was observed by four fungal strains: Bjerkandera adusta VTT-D-99746, Galactomy ces geotrichum VTT-D-84228, Trametes hirsuta VTT-D-95443 and Trametes versi color VTT-D-99747. The four fungi were more efficient on nitrogen-limited m edium than on complete medium. The melanin-decolorizing activity of G. geot richum appeared to be located on the mycelium and could be liberated into t he medium enzymatically.