The dye decolorization potential of the white-rot fungus Phlebia brevispora TMIC33929 when grown alone or in coculture with its growth-promoting bacterium Enterobacter sp. TN3W-14 was evaluated in low nitrogen liquid medium at different pHs. Axenic fungus removed a similar amount of Congo red and crystal violet at pH 4.5 and 7.0, respectively. The bacterium alone achieved only slightly better decolorization of crystal violet than the fungus at pH 9.0. Compared with axenic fungus, cocultures provided no increased crystal violet removal but achieved higher removal of crystal violet in mixed dye at all pHs, and the best-mixed dye decolorization at pH 9.0. Unlike bacterial growth on dyes, growth of fungal mycelia was not inhibited by the dyes at all pH but the cocultures gave comparably higher mycelial growth.
Keywords: Biosorption; Dye contamination; Growth-promoting bacterium; Phlebia brevispora TMIC33929; pH management.