TY - JOUR TI - Utilizing natural components to combat anthropogenic effects DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T34Q7ZB9 PY - 2018 AB - Plastic pollution is a recognized global threat that must be resolved in order to preserve and conserve natural ecosystems. Fungi are prime candidates for being one of the many solutions to reducing plastic waste since they are primary decomposers. In particular, white-rot fungi possess ligninolytic enzymes, which break down complex lignin molecules. The present study demonstrates that selected white-rot fungi are able to biodegrade certain single-use plastics. The selected fungi are the following: Pleurotus ostreatus, P. ostreatus columbinus, Lentinula edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, and Trametes versicolor. The selected single-use plastics for this study are the following: high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. KW - Biology KW - Biodegradation LA - eng ER -