3.8 Textile dyeing
The ability of fungal colorants to dye materials, specifically fabrics, was evaluated. The results revealed that the colorant produced byPenicillium sclerotiorum P3SO224 was the most promising for this purpose (Fig. 5) due to the orange pigmentation that remained after washing the three types of fabrics used (polyester, silk and cotton). Polyester and silk fabrics dyed with the colorant produced byPenicillium gravinicasei P3SO332 showed a slightly pink hue. The dyeing of fabrics with the colorant produced by Clonostachys rosea P2SO329 was not effective. It was found that all fabrics presented lighter shades after washing as well as after the period of exposure to light. Our study also indicated that the orange colorant produced by Penicillium sclerotiorum P3SO224 has a higher degree of pigmentation in polyester fabrics than in the other fabrics tested.