laccase activity decreased with increasing culture temperature (Fig.3D). Cells grown at 20oC produced more laccase during earlier stages of the culture; however, the laccase productivity was overtaken by cells grown at 15oC when the culture time exceeded 48 hr (data not shown). Laccase activity remained low at temperatures higher than 25oC (Fig. 3D). The requirement for low temperatures may be attributed to the instability of laccase protein at elevated temperatures.