Trametes polyzona as a Source for Bioremediation and Industrial Applications: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This review explores Trametes polyzona's potential for bioremediation and industrial use, highlighting its enzyme capabilities and biodegradation efficiency.

Contribution

The study provides a systematic review of T. polyzona's biotechnological applications and identifies gaps in methodological consistency and ecotoxicological assessments.

Findings

T. polyzona shows high ligninolytic activity with laccase specific activities up to 1637 U/mg.

The fungus efficiently degrades dyes, pesticides, and phenolic pollutants with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Methodological inconsistencies in strain characterization and analytical approaches limit comparability across studies.

Abstract

Trametes polyzona is a white-rot basidiomycete with increasing relevance in environmental biotechnology due to its ligninolytic enzymes, biodegradation capacity, and versatile metabolic responses to diverse substrates. To provide an integrated and updated understanding of its biotechnological potential, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 46 studies published between 1991 and 2024 were analyzed, covering enzymatic production profiles, degradation of xenobiotics, extraction of bioactive metabolites, and experimental conditions influencing performance. Across the literature, T. polyzona consistently exhibits high ligninolytic activity, including laccase specific activities reported up to 1637 U/mg, together with efficient transformation of dyes, pesticides, and phenolic pollutants, and promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. However, substantial methodological heterogeneity was identified, particularly in strain characterization, fermentation parameters, and analytical approaches used to quantify enzymatic and biodegradation outcomes. These inconsistencies limit cross-study comparability and hinder process standardization. This review integrates current evidence; highlights critical gaps, such as limited ecotoxicological assessment of degradation products and scarce multi-omics characterization; and identifies key opportunities for process optimization in submerged/solid-state fermentation, bioreactor scaling, and the valorization of fungal metabolites. Overall, T. polyzona remains an underutilized resource with distinct advantages for applied mycology, environmental remediation, and industrial biotechnology.

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