Degradation of textile dyes by white rot basidiomycetes.

ABSTRACT: Dyes released by the textile industries pose a threat to environmental quality. Ligninolytic white-rot basidiomycetes can effectively degrade colored effluents and conventional dyes. White-rot fungi produce various isoforms of extracellular oxidases including laccase, Mn peroxidase and lignin peroxidase (LiP), which are involved in the degradation of lignin in their natural lignocellulosic substrates.  The textile industry, by far the most avid user of synthetic dyes, is in need of eco-efficient solutions for its colored effluents. White rot basidiomycetous fungi comprise the only group of organisms known to completely degrade lignin. Ligninolytic enzymes have potential applications in a large number of fields, including the chemical, fuel, food, agricultural, paper, textile, cosmetic industrial sectors and more. This ligninolytic system of white-rot fungi is also directly involved in the degradation of various xenobiotic compounds apart from textile dyes. Their capacities to remove xenobiotic substances make them a useful tool for bioremediation purposes. This paper reviews involvement of ligninolytic enzymes of white rot basidiomycetes in the degradation of textiles dyes and xenobiotic compounds for their industrial and biotechnological applications.