Fig. 9

Explanatory diagram of the processes involved in the formation of chlorophenols and chloroanisoles in cork. a, b Microbial degradation of suberin and/or lignin present in the suberized secondary wall (SW) results in the formation of p-hydroxybenzoate. c This compound can be transformed into phenol by some bacterial strains, such as the two Streptomyces sp. strains described in this study. d Once formed, phenol can be chlorinated by fungal (or bacterial) chloroperoxidases to produce different chlorophenols, including 2,4,6-TCP. e Finally, the toxic 2,4,6-TCP is efficiently detoxified into 2,4,6-TCA by fungal chlorophenol O-methyltransferases