Patterns of Diffusibility of Lignin and Carbohydrate-Degrading Systems in Wood-Rotting Fungi

SUMMARY

In an attempt to identify organisms that produce diffusible lignin-degrading systems, a culturing apparatus was constructed which contained two compartments separated by a bacteriological membrane filter. Lignin-degrading fungi were grown with lignocellulose in one compartment, and diffusion channels were maintained through the membrane to sterile lignocellulose in the adjoining compartment. For the fungi tested both lignin and carbohydrate were degraded when the mycelium and the substrate were in physical contact, but only carbohydrate was degraded significantly in the adjoining compartment containing sterile lignocellulose. Two organisms, Coriolus versicolor and Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 displayed slight diffusible lignin-degrading activity. Some fungi produced more diffusible carbohydrate-degrading activity than others.