Phenoloxidases Produced by Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Baccharis Dracunculifolia D. C. (Asteraceae)

Phenolic compounds fall within the waste resulting from the biodegradation of natural and anthropogenic, are found in soil and water, but despite being widely distributed in nature are part of the main pollutants toxic waste discarded by a wide variety of industries such as textiles, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, coating metals, wood preservatives, dyes, plastics and resins, coal conversion, and are components of many biocides. In order to remedy the impacts of these compounds, seven endophytic fungal species isolated from Baccharis dracunculifolia D. C. (Asteraceae) were studied to determine their ability to produce phenoloxidases capable of degrading phenolic compounds. The fungi were inoculated in media containing different concentrations of gallic acid, incubated at 28℃ and monitored every 48 h. Enzyme production was assessed through the observation of an amber-colored halo, which is characteristic of the Bavendamm’s reaction. Only Fusarium sp. strain D3-FB and Cercospora sp. strain D7-FB showed degradation halos at all concentrations. Although developed in the same media, the other species showed no signs of the Bavendamm’s reaction.