Lignocellulose degradation potential of Basidiomycota from Thrace (NE Greece)

• The lignocellulolytic potential of 80 Greek Basidiomycota was evaluated.
• Parallel screening for lignin- and (hemi)cellulolytic abilities was achieved by using Azo-substrates.
• Liquid cultures activities verified the agar screening results for most enzymes examined.
• Strains with biotechnologically exploitable enzyme production levels were found.
• Additional strains with complete lignocellulolytic profile were identified for the first time.

Eighty fungal strains isolated from Northeastern Greece were evaluated for their biomass-degrading ability, both on solid and liquid cultures. Remazol Brilliant Blue R- and MnCl2-glucose plates were used for assessing ligninolytic potential. Cellulolytic and xylanolytic capabilities were evaluated with the use of Azo-CMC and Azo-Xylan, respectively, a choice that proved useful for the parallel detection of lignin degradation activities. Twenty eight strains were selected to study the production of the corresponding enzymatic activities in wheat-bran based liquid media. Most isolates produced relatively high extracellular endo-β-1,4-glucanase, endo-β-1,4-xylanase and laccase activities, whereas neither lignin nor manganese-dependent peroxidase activity was detected. The pH dependence of the measured activities was also determined. The highest cellulase and xylanase levels were detected in Trametes pubescens, while Cerrena unicolor proved to be the best laccase producer. The present work points out the great potential of Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota) for lignocellulose degradation applications, and for many species, such as Agaricus impudicus, Coprinellus micaceus, Daedaleopsis tricolor, Fomitiporia pseudopunctata, Gymnopus foetidus, Neolentinus cyathiformis and Psathyrella fagetophila, represents the first report on the production of lignocellulolytic enzymes. Concerning fungal diversity, the species Coprinopsis spelaiophila, D. tricolor and F. pseudopunctata are reported for the first time from Greece. The strains of A. impudicus, C. spelaiophila, G. foetidus and P. fagetophila are unique as pure culture isolates.