Page 308 - Demo

312 PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGYthan Ascomycota strains on both PDA and pomegranate peel. C. prunulus BV18 had the highest laccase activity on both substrates, especially on pomegranate peel (338.3 U ml%u22121), indicating that pomegranate peel may stimulate laccase production. Ascomycota strains, such as X. longipes BV1 and H. cucullata BV15, showed much lower laccase activity, suggesting these strains are less efficient at producing laccase compared to Basidiomycota fungi.Catalase activity was mostly low or not detectable (ND) in Ascomycota strains. In contrast, basidiomycota strains showed measurable catalase activity, with C. prunulus BV18 exhibiting the highest catalase activity (6.76 %u00b5mol H2O2 ml%u22121) on pomegranate peel. L. brumalis BV9 and X. longipes BV1 also showed notable catalase activity on pomegranate peel, suggesting that these fungi may produce catalase to mitigate oxidative stress, particularly when degrading phenolic compounds in the substrate. Basidiomycota strains tend to produce higher laccase and catalase activities than Ascomycota strains, with significant enhancement in enzyme production on pomegranate peel. The differences in enzyme activities suggest that specific substrates, such as pomegranate peel, can stimulate fungal enzymes, especially laccase, which may be linked to the degradation of lignin and phenolic compounds.