ABSTRACT
<b>Background and Objective:</b> Laccase is one of the ligninolytic enzymes classified as a multicopper oxidoreductase group that has the ability in oxidizing phenolic compounds and has widespread use in both food and non-food industries. This enzyme is extracellularly secreted by white-rot fungi, <i>Trametes versicolor</i> (L.) Lloyd in the media containing lignocellulose, for example, kapok banana peels and sawdust. The objective of this study was to evaluate lignocellulosic substrate that able to produce the highest activity of the laccase from the <i>T. versicolor </i>(L.) Lloyd. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Three substrate variations used in this work included the cultivation media with the addition of either kapok banana peels or sawdust and without using both materials. The inducer (CuSO<sub>4</sub>) was added to each substrate variation and the laccase activity was subsequently measured. <b>Results:</b> The qualitative test result for laccase detection showed that <i>T. versicolor </i>(L.) Lloyd<i> </i>was able to produce this enzyme indicated with a reddish-brown surrounding fungal colony. The fungi cultivated in media with the content of sawdust and 1 mM CuSO<sub>4</sub> yielded the highest laccase activity, reaching 573.6 U L<sup></sup><sup>1</sup> with an OD value of 0.5567<i> </i>and a pH of 5.3 after 7 days of incubation. Meanwhile, the addition of kepok banana peels and 1 mM CuSO<sub>4</sub>, showed the maximum laccase activity (297.7 U L<sup></sup><sup>1</sup>) with the OD value of 0.6932 and a pH of 5 after incubation for 6 days. <b>Conclusion:</b> The white-rot fungi of <i>T. versicolor</i> (L.) Lloyd<i> </i>could produce optimal laccase activity by adding sawdust substrate and 1 mM CuSO<sub>4 </sub>inducer on submerged fermentation.
