Laccase activity was assessed using 0.1 mL of 0.5 mM syringaldazine solution in ethanol ( due to its limited solubility in aqueous solution ) as substrate, 0.2 mL 0.05M citrate phosphate at pH 5, 0.6 mL of enzyme preparation and 0.1 mL of disilled water in a final volume of 1mL ( Szklarzet al. 1989 ).