Isolation and characterization of phanerochaete strains suitable for bioremediation purposes

The most unsettled problem of organic farmlands are related to the following two groups of pollutants: POP (Persistent Organic Pollutant) and PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon) compounds. These are recognized as being directly toxic to biota even at low concentration; furthermore, they accumulate in organisms. The white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has a potential for bioremediation of soils polluted by xenobiotic compounds. Our aim was to isolate of P. chrysosporium strains, which can efficiently degrade POP and PAH compounds by their enzyme systems. A new selective medium, containing rose bengal, dichloran and carbendazim was used to isolate P. chrysosporium from soil. We isolated one P. sordida and five P. chrysosporium strains from Hungarian environmental samples. In soil microcosm experiments the investigated Phanerochaete strains were able to degrade distinct herbicides and parabens in soils of different origin (agricultural field soil, garden soil and sandy soil)