Abstract

Trametes versicolor and Agaricus augustus, with a maximum tolerable concentration (MTC) of 80 μg ml -1 tribromophenol (TBP), were selected to evaluate TBP biodegradation capacity. These fungi were capable of decreased TBP concentrations and A. augustus was also capable of biotransforming TBP to tribromoanisole (TBA). Peroxidase and laccase activities were observed in the T. versicolor supernatant but not in that of A. augustus. These tolerance levels could be due to either lignolytic enzymes that degrade TBP or the ability of the fungi to biotransform TBP to tribromoanisole, respectively. The sustained ability of T. versicolor to degrade TBP (total of 40 μg ml -1) in the presence of an additional carbon source suggests that it may have potential applications in the degradation of forestry industry waste. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.