Induction of laccase in Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium grown in olive oil waste water.

The induction of laccase (E.C. 1.10.3.2), the behaviour of phenols and the mycelium growth were followed in the olive oil waste waters inoculated with Pleurotus ostreatus. Laccase induction depended on the amounts of phenols present in the cultural medium and its activity was evident when phenols were reduced below 0.5 g/l. The enzymatic activity increased in 2-4 days and then rapidly disappeared. Contemporary mycelium growth started. The final yield depended on the initial amount of organic matter. Phenolic compounds completely disappeared during the growth of mycelium.