Laccase activity was monitored in synthetic media supplemented with various phenolics. Phenol was the most effective inducer. The white rot basidiomycete Trametes versicolor grown in non-induced and phenol induced conditions, was tested for production of laccase (TvLac), lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), arylalcohol oxidase (AAO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Although no PPO, LiP and AAO were observed in the culture filtrates, TvLac and MnP activities were detected at the fourth and fifth day of incubation, respectively. In phenol induced cultures, the maximum enzyme activity was enhanced about 20-fold with regard to control cultures. Laccase production at optimum phenol concentration was investigated by monitoring enzyme activity, protein content, glucose consumption and biomass and it was determined that laccase production is non-growth associated. The optimum pH of the enzyme was 4.5. Kinetic constants of TvLac was determined as K. value 0.6 1mM and a V-max of 8264 U/L (R-2 = 0.99). Laccase, isolated from T.versicolor, was also used for denim washing without a mediator. TvLac was more effective than commercial laccase with a mediator. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.