Tyrosinase activity discovered in Trametes spp.

A total of 54 strains of white rot fungi belonging to 12 closely related species of genera Trametes, Coriolopsis, Cerrena and Lenzites were tested for tyrosinase activity. In the majority of the strains preliminary spot test using p-cresol gave mostly negative results, the activity being detected only in four strains of three different Trametes species (Trametes cervina, T. hirsuta, T. versicolor). The tyrosinase activity of these strains (one strain of T. cervina, T. hirsuta H3, T. hirsuta H7 and T. versicolor V14) was then confirmed spectrophotometrically. Tyrosinase activity has not yet been described in any Trametes species.