Comparative Studies of Extracellular Fungal Laccases under Different Conditions

Various basidiomycetes and deuteromycetes, grown in liquid and solid culture media, were compared for their laccase-producing ability and for the inducing effect of soil and agricultural residues on laccase production. Laccase activity in extracts of all solid media was higher than that of the liquid media. In liquid cultures, fungal laccase activity in extracts of pea (Pisum sativum) straw-treated media compared with the other agricultural residue-treated media was significantly low. The laccase-producing ability of Polyporus sp. compared with the other fungi was significantly high whereas that of Trichoderma reesei was markedly low. Laccase activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium under liquid conditions was strikingly low, however, under solid conditions it increased more than that of the other fungi. With the addition of soil to wheat and rice straw-treated solid media, fungal laccase activity increased significantly.