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. 1985 Jul;50(1):133–139. doi: 10.1128/aem.50.1.133-139.1985

Biological Delignification of Aspen Wood by Solid-State Fermentation with the White-Rot Fungus Merulius tremellosus†

Ian D Reid 1
PMCID: PMC238585  PMID: 16346831

Abstract

Solid-state fermentation of aspen (Populus tremuloides) wood with Merulius tremellosus for 8 weeks removed 52% of the lignin but only 12% of the total wood weight, and increased the cellulase digestibility to 53% from 18%. Water-soluble and enzyme-solubilized lignin degradation products accumulated. Delignification was fastest at temperatures between 25 and 32.5°C and at a water-to-wood ratio of 2. Initial pH values between 4 and 6 were optimal; M. tremellosus acidified the wood to below pH 3.5 as it grew. The fungus tolerated CO2 concentrations of at least 14% and O2 concentrations down to 7% in the bulk gas phase. Both simple and complex nitrogen supplements inhibited delignification. Supplementary KH2PO4, MgSO4, CaCl2, thiamine, and trace elements had little effect on the fermentation. Four isolates of M. tremellosus had very similar abilities to delignify aspen wood. Biological delignification with M. tremellosus may be a useful pretreatment for enzymatic saccharification or ruminant feeding.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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