Isolation and enzymic characterisation of South African white-rot fungi

Over 600 basidiomycetes were isolated from indigenous forests and commercial Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations in South Africa. One hundred and twenty of the cultures were identified and biochemical tests were done to screen the cultures for characteristics that are favourable for biopulping. Most of the white-rot fungi previously associated with biopulping elsewhere in the world were also isolated in South Africa, as well as an isolate with uniquely regulated ligninolytic systems. Phanerochaete chrysosporium was found to be a natural coloniser of wood chip piles in South Africa.