ABSTRACT The accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has become a major environmental in Malaysia. Disposal of PET in the local landfill has resulted in additional problems, as plastic leachate is known to cause cancer and neurological impairment in humans. Mycoremediation using fungi with vast hyphal network and broader metabolic competence is seen as an eco-friendlier approach to tackle this issue. The objective of this research is to evaluate fungi remediation of PET via the detection of manganese peroxidase and laccase activity. Biodegradation of PET is shown via the enzymatic activity of laccase and manganese peroxidase measured at the wavelength of 450 nm and 610 nm, respectively. Of the 14 species of fungi isolated from the Jeram landfill, only 7 fungal species were able to biodegrade PET to obtain the carbon that supports fungal growth. Only one species, P. janthinellum was able to express relatively high MnP and laccase activity consistently, demonstrating the ability to biodegrade PET. This shows that P. janthinellum has the highest potential to be further developed as an agent to biodegrade PET in an integrated plastic waste management to restore soil pollution.
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