| Abstract: | Peroxidases and other lignin‐degrading enzymes and chemicals can potentially degrade persistent pollutants. Fifty vascular plant species were hydroponically tested for the capability of decolorization of Poly R‐478, a lignolytic indicator dye. The top six species that had less than 50 percent of control color at the end of the experiments were Pennisetum purpureum, Rumex crispus, Fimbristylis cymosa, Eleocharis calva, Hibiscus furcellatus, and Cyperus javanicus, in an order from high to low decolorization activity. F. cymosa, E. calva, and C. javanicus are in the Cyperaceae family. Extracellular peroxidase activity was found in vascular plants and correlated to decolorization of polymeric dyes. The plant R. crispus provided the highest guaiacol peroxidase enzyme activity among four of the top six plant species. The Poly R‐478 decolorization could be used as a fast screening technique for vascular plants that may have phytoremediation capability. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
