Effect of fungal co-cultures on ligninolytic enzyme activities, H₂O₂ production, and orange G discoloration

Abstract

In this study, the effects of Aspergillus niger in coculture with the basidiomycetes, Trametes versicolor, T. maxima, and Ganoderma spp., were studied to assess H₂O₂ production and laccase (Lac), Lignin Peroxidase (LiP), and manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities. The results indicated that maximum discoloration was of 97%, in the T. maxima and A. niger coculture, where the concentration of H₂O₂ was 5 mg/L and 6.3 mg/L in cultures without and with dye, respectively. These concentrations of H₂O₂ were 1.6- and 1.8-fold higher than monocultures of T. maxima (3.37 mg/L) and A. niger (3.87 mg/L), respectively. In the same coculture, the LiP and MnP enzyme activities also increased 12-fold, (from 0.08 U/mg to 0.99 U/mg), and 67-fold, (from 0.11 U/mg to 7.4 U/mg), respectively. The Lac activity increased 1.7-fold (from 13.46 U/mg to 24 U/mg). Further, a Box–Behnken experimental design indicated a 1.8-fold increase of MnP activity (from 7.4 U/mg to 13.3 U/mg). In addition, dye discoloration regression model obtained from the Box–Behnken experimental design showed a positively correlation with H₂O₂, (R² = 0.58) and a negatively correlation with Lac activity (R² = –0.7).

Keywords:

• Dye
• hydrogen peroxide
• interactions
• laccase
• manganese peroxidase

Acknowledgments

We are thankful for the support from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) [grant number 439486], [grant number 263043]; “Innovación de uso de tecnologías limpias” SENER/CONACYT; and the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav). Finally, we wish to thank to the Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias of the Universidad de Colima.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.