The degradation of three non-phenolic fl-Oo 4 diarylpropane lignin model compounds was studied in cultures of the white-rot fungus Phlebia radiata. The degradation pattern of the model compound 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)propane-l,3diol (I) was also compared with that of Phanerochaete chrysosporium under conditions where both fungi were cultivated without agitation in an oxygen atmosphere. Compound I was readily degraded by both fungi, and qualitatively the degradation patterns were quite similar. The product, after Ca-C a bond cleavage, was veratraldehyde (IV) which was almost stoichiometrically reduced to veratryi alcohol (V). However, large amounts of V were detected only in P. chrysosporiurn cultures. Experiments with the model compound 1-(4-ethoxy-3methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)propane-l,3diol (II) showed that in the presence of II, the total amount of veratryl compounds accounted for 15-33 ].LM in standing cultures of Phlebia radiata. The model compound 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenoxy) propane-l,3-diol (III) was more readily degraded than I and II. The results indicated that, in P. radiata cultures, the acting enzymes were lignin peroxidases and IV reducing enzyme, while laccase was less important.