A fungal consortium-SR consisting of Trametes sp. SQ01 and Chaetomium sp. R01 was developed for decolorizing three kinds of triphenylmethane dyes, which were decolorized by individual fungi with low efficiencies. The fungal consortium-SR produced 1.3 U ml(-1) of manganese peroxidase, 5.5 times higher than that produced by the monoculture of Trametes sp. SQ01, and decolorized Crystal Violet, Coomassie Brilliant Blue G250 (CBB G250) and Cresol Red. The fungal consortium-SR had a decolorization rate of 63-96%, much higher than that of the monoculture of strain SQ01 (38-72%). In consortium-SR, the higher efficiencies of decolorization of Crystal Violet and CBB G250 were obtained when they added to the culture after 4 d of mixed cultivation rather than at the beginning of cultivation. Cresol Red was the exception. It is suggested that the consortium-SR has great potential for decolorizing triphenylmethane dyes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.