American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 5 (4): 466-472, 2009 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2009 Corresponding Author: Dr. Premjet Siripong, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University Pitsanulok, 65000 Thailand 466 Screening of Fungi from Natural Sources in Thailand for Degradation of Polychlorinated Hydrocarbons Premjet Siripong, Bunthong Oraphin, Tachibana Sanro and Premjet Duanporn 1 1 2 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Pitsanulok, 65000 Thailand 1 Department of Bioresources, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 2 3-5-7 Tarumi Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, 3 Naresuan University, Pitsanulok, 65000 Thailand Abstract: Fungal isolates were collected from the Phitsanulok and Pichit provinces in the lower northern region of Thailand. All of the fungal cultures were tested for their ability to decolorize the dye Remazol brilliant blue R. It was observed that only 47 of the 296 fungal isolates formed clear areas with various diameters on agar plates when grown for 15 days. The fungal isolates E15, E109, I19, F33 and U11 produced the largest decolorization zone (Ø 90 mm). Subsequently, these five isolates were tested for their ability to degrade 2,8-DCDD (2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) and DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) in liquid culture medium. It was observed that 2,8-DCDD and DDT were eliminated by all tested isolates with different kinetics. The results demonstrated that the degradation of 2,8-DCDD by all tested isolates ranged from 74.68 ± 1.2% to 87.20 ± 1.5% during 15 days incubation. The degradation increased up to 91.40 ± 1.1% to 100% when the isolates were cultured for 30 days. In contrast, degradation of DDT by all five tested isolates was less than 50%. Of these five isolates, F33 exhibited the greatest ability to degrade 2,8-DCDD during a 30 day incubation. The fungal isolates E15, E109 and I19 were identified as Trametes sp., Polyporus sp. and Nigroporus sp, respectively. However, the F33 and U11 isolates were not identified. Key words: Fungi, Biodegradation, 2,8-DCDD, DDT and Remazol brilliant blue R INTRODUCTION model for studying the degradation of DDT, 3,4,3N ,4N - White rot fungi belong to the order Basidomycetes 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, lindane and that participates in the biodegradation of lignin in nature, benzo(a)pyrene. They stated that P. chrysosporium which is essential for global carbon recycling [1,2,3]. oxidized these organopollutants to carbon-dioxide using Previous studies indicate that most of white-rot fungi its lignin-degrading enzyme system under nitrogen- produce and secrete various extracellular enzymes that deficient conditions. Yadav et al. [6] observed that degrade lignin. These are peroxidase or ligninolytic P. chrysosporium degraded polychlorinated biphenyl enzymes, predominantly lignin peroxidase (LiP), mixtures of Aroclors 1242, 1254 and 1260 by 60.9, 30.5 and manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase. They are non 17.6%, respectively. The relatively high degradation of specific enzyme system, enabling fungi to degrade natural Aroclors 1242 and 1254 occurred in defined media under complex aromatic polymers of lignin as well as complex both high and low N conditions. Tachibana et al. [7] aromatic polymers that share structure with lignin, such as screened 129 isolates of natural wood-rotting fungi pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and found that 3 were extremely effective to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dyes [4]. Most the dye Remazol brilliant blue R. One of these isolates researchers have utilized Phanerochaete chrysosporium exhibited a greater rate of 2,7-DCDD degradation than as a model for studying the biodegradation of a wide P. chrysosporium. Itoh et al. [8] observed that the rate of variety of pollutants present in both liquid and soil 2,7-DCDD degradation in culture medium correlated with cultures. Bumpus et al. [5] used P. chrysosporium as a accumulation of LiP, but not MnP and Laccase. tetrachlorobiphenyl, 2,4,5,2N ,4N ,5N -hexachlorobiphenyl, 2