The tropical and humid climate in Malaysia shall permits exploration in advanced research in fungus field. However, far too little attention was given to identify local sources of lignin degrader microorganisms in Malaysian soil. Thus, the fungi ligninolytic potential is still largely unexplored and many novel ligninolytic enzymes may await discovery. In this study, 104 white rot fungi strains isolated from soils were screened using different decolorization assays to identify their ligninolytic potential. Results suggested that different dyes will give an effect on the level of decolorization rate from strains isolated. Selected potent strains were further evaluated for kraft lignin biodegradation and at least one of ligninolytic enzymes preferably lignin peroxidase responsible for its loss of lignin. The highest of lignin loss (43.29±0.15%) were obtained from
Mortierella sp. WICC F33 strains with cocktail of enzymes (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase) produced at 134.46±12.94 U L
-1, 41.01±1.61 U L
-1 and 1.43±0.19 U L
-1, respectively. Laccase may not noticeable for many isolates; however its role as a mediator enabling the oxidation of non-phenolic lignin model compounds. From this study, three strains of
Mortierella sp. WICC F32, 32 and 37,
Gongronella sp. WICC F34,
Cunninghamella sp. WICC F35,
Fomitopsis sp. WICC F36,
Phanerochaete sp. WICC F38 and
Cerrenasp. WICC F39 were identified and deposited to The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) for further characterization.
Keywords: White rot fungi, Lignin peroxidase, Manganese peroxidase, Laccase
