Geotrichum-like strain R59, the anamorphic form of the white-rot fungus, Bjerkandera adusta, was isolated from soil. It was found to completely decolorize and degrade 10% daunomycin post-production effluent during 10 days of incubation at 26 degrees C. Strain R59 produced only low levels of ligninolytic enzymes when grown on wheat straw- or beech sawdust-containing media, but in the presence of humic acids derived from brown coal it synthesized significant amounts of laccase and lipase. This phenomenon was coupled with the fungus entering the idiophase and the appearance of aerial mycelium. B. adusta strain R59 was found to completely decolorize 0.03% humic acids from brown coal and lessive soil and to partially decolorize humic acids isolated from a chernozem during 14 days of growth. This ability of strain R59 could be useful in constructing a new generation of biologically active filters for the purification of humic acids-contaminated drinking waters.