Enhanced laccase expression and azo dye decolourization during co-interaction of Trametes versicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract

In the present investigation, azophloxine dye decolourization with lignolytic enzyme producing white rot fungi, Trametes versicolour (TV) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PC) co-cultures, was investigated. Co-culturing of TV and PC extended the laccase activity by 8.2 times as compared to monocultivation of TV. Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a non-laccase producing fungus, produced the enzyme due to hyphal modifications and synergistic interaction with Trametes versicolour. The crude laccase extracted from TV + PC co-cultures showed 87.6% decolourization when subjected to azophloxine dye for 48 h. Contrary, laccase extracted from TV self-pairing plates showed decolourization of 14.4%. Henceforth, this investigation demonstrated that co-culturing of two white rot strains improved dye decolourization by increasing laccase enzymatic action.