Effect of aromatic compounds on growth and ligninolytic enzyme production of two white rot fungi Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Cyathus stercoreus
Seven benzoic acid, ten cinnamic acid, and five benzaldehyde derivatives were tested for their effects on hyphal growth and production of laccase and manganese peroxidase by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora FP 90031-sp and Cyathus stercoreus ATCC 36910. Derivatives tested included phenolic compounds and their corresponding unsubstituted and O-methylated derivatives. Benzaldehyde derivatives were more toxic to both fungi than the corresponding benzoic and cinnamic acid derivatives. Hyphal growth was generally increased at a low concentration of 1 mM, while higher concentrations of 5-10 mM mostly resulted in less or no growth. Hyphal growth and enzyme production response were compound specific. However, generally monomethoxylated compounds were more toxic than compounds with an additional methoxyl group. Cyathus stercoreus was more sensitive than Ceriporiopsis subvermispora to most of the compounds tested and thus showed poorer growth. Cyathus stercoreus produced higher concentrations of manganese peroxidase than Ceriporiopsis subvermispora for all the compounds tested, whereas laccase activity was higher in Ceriporiopsis subvermispora for most of the compounds tested. Di- and tri-methoxylated compounds induced more laccase and manganese peroxidase activities than the corresponding hydroxylated derivatives. At 1 mM levels, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid induced the greatest increase in laccase production for Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Cyathus stercoreus (245 and 290% of control, respectively). Syringic acid induced manganese peroxidase (MnP) to 536% of that in control for Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, and both 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid induced MnP to over 300% of control for Cyathus stercoreus. The results provide a body of information on the effects of specific aromatic compounds on two potentially industrially important fungi. Key words: biomass conversion, aromatic compounds, white rot fungi, fungal growth, enzyme production.