Rice Straw Based Evaluation of Lignolytic and Cellulolytic Capabilities of Novel Strains of Saprophytic Fungi from Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot

Superior lignocellulolytic microbes are useful for efficient bioconversion of plant biomass. Eight fungal strains were isolated from compost and forest litter of an Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot and were evaluated for their lignolytic and cellulolytic capabilities. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study was performed to test their effect on cellulose crystallinity of rice straw. Scanning electron spectroscopic (SEM) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis were performed to study the surface morphology and chemical changes occurred in the fungi treated rice straw, respectively. The fungus <i>Fusarium equiseti</i> strain TWRF-10 showed endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and endoxylanase activity of 99.19, 87.39, and 166.81 IU g^–1 rice straw, respectively, whereas <i>Penicillium simplicissimum</i> strain TRF-27 showed laccase and Mn peroxidase activity of 248.53 and 168.5 IU g^–1 rice straw, respectively. The strain TRF-27 caused a 65% reduction in cellulose crystallinity. These strains should be further tested for industrial use

The AMF colonization in the roots (A) and spore count in rhizospheric soil (B).

<p>RI- <i>Rhizophagus irregularis,</i> GM- <i>G. mosseae,</i> VW- vermiwash. Values are means of nine biological replicates. Bar shows standard error of mean (SEM). Different letters on the column represent significant difference (<i>p</i>< 0.05) based on LSD test.</p

Effect of foliar spray of vermiwash on response of inoculation of two different AM fungi in <i>Capsicum assamicum</i> under pot conditions.

<p>Values are means ± standard errors of nine biological replicates. Values within a column not followed by the same letter are statistically.</p><p>different (p<0.05). *Measured as SPAD value using chlorophyll meter (SPAD 502 Plus; Konica Minolta, Japan).</p><p>N- Nitrogen; P- Phosphorus; K- Potassium; C- Carbon; Na- Sodium; Ca- Calcium.</p

Physico-chemical properties of the soil and vermiwash used in the study.

<p>*Mean ± standard error (n = 3). **Values in ppm.</p

Mycorrhizal growth dependency of <i>C. assamicum</i>.

<p>RI- <i>Rhizophagus irregularis,</i> GM- <i>G. mosseae,</i> VW- vermiwash. Values are means of nine biological replicates. Bar shows SEM. Different letters on the column represent significant difference (<i>p</i> < 0.05) based on LSD test.</p