Background:

Pleurotus spp. are fungi characterized by their ability to biologically degrade lignocellulosic materials. In Argentina, 6 wild Pleurotus species are known, being P. pulmonarius and P. ostreatus the ones with the greatest bio­ technological interest.

Objective:

To determine the phylogenetic relationships of Pleurotus strains from Patagonia and their enzymatic capacity (laccase) at low temperatures.

Methods:

A phylogenetic analysis of the ITS regions of 8 wild Pleurotus strains from Patagonia and Parana region in north­ east and central Argentina was carried out. Laccase activity of the strains was quantified using dimethoxyphenol (DMP) as substrate, incubating at 30 and 10 ºC, with and without previous heat treatment at 80 ºC.

Results and conclusions:

Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region of Pleurotus strains showed that Patagonian strains belong to P. ostreatus (5) and non-Patagonian strains to P. pulmonarius (3). Laccase activity was no relationship between the retention capacity and the origin of the strains, with more than 50 % retention of activity at 10 ºC, therefore it viable their use in biotechnological processes that require low temperature conditions.