A process for using a common fungus found on the bark of trees to degrade pesticide wastes has been developed by UC Davis toxicologists. A strain of the white rot fungus known as Phanerochaete chrysosporium is used to break down the target chemicals. "This microorganism degrades many types of chemicals and has a proven ability to compete against other organisms," says Fumio Matsumura, a professor of environmental toxicology and associate director of the Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program. In its natural environment, the fungus excretes an enzyme capable of digesting a substance in tree bark that is very resistant to degradation. Matsumura and colleagues capitalized on this degradative ability of the fungus for use in breaking down pesticide residues in the soil. The researchers presented these findings recently at a scientific conference, and an article describing their work was published earlier this summer in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The University of California has filed for a patent on the process.