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 tha...