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In the present study, an extracellular alkali stable laccase (Lac DS) from DS which has pH optima at 8.5 using-phenylenediamine (PPD) as substrate has been reported. Lac DS retained 70% activity for 4 h at pH 8.5 and 90% activity for 24 h at 55 °C. The enzyme yield was enhanced by optimization of fermentation conditions. A 746-fold increase in yield was observed under optimized conditions using 150 µM MgSO, 1.2% yeast extract, 0.35% tryptone, and 150 µM vanillic acid. Lac DS was used to polymerize natural dye precursor catechol, pyrogallol, syringaldehyde, syringic acid, ferulic acid and gallic acid to develop a range of natural hair colors such as black, golden yellow, and reddish brown. The results indicate that alkaline Lac DS is a suitable candidate to develop a user-friendly and commercially applicable hair dyeing process in the area of cosmetic industry.

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Two unusual species of Craterellus have been collected numerous times from the evergreen tropical forests in Kerala State, India. The species Craterellus albostrigosus and Craterellus inusitatus are described as new based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of nrLSU-rDNA gene region. Complete morphological descriptions, photographs and comparisons with similar species are provided as well as a key to the known species of Craterellus from India.