Production of decolorizing activity for molasses pigment by Coriolus versicolor Ps4a.

The distribution of molasses pigment (melanoidin) decolorizing activity (MDA) was investigated in various Basidiomycetes. MDA was only found in some genera of the white-rot-fungi group of which Coriolus versicolor Ps4a showed high activity, a decolorization yield of approximately 80% under the optimal conditions. Production of MDA by C. versicolor was almost completely coincident with the growth of mycelia. The main MDA was due to intracellular enzymes and induced by the molasses pigment. The induced enzyme consisted of two types, namely a sugar dependent enzyme and a sugar independent enzyme. The decolorization by C. versicolor was due to the decomposition of the molasses pigment.