Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic Implications
Sweet sorghum is a promising crop for a warming, drying African climate, and basic information is lacking on conversion pathways for its lignocellulosic residues (bagasse). Brown rot wood-decomposer fungi use carbohydrate-selective pathways that, when assessed on sorghum, a grass substrate, can yiel...
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Wiley
2018-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Microbiology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4961726 |
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| author | Gerald N. Presley Bongani K. Ndimba Jonathan S. Schilling |
| author_facet | Gerald N. Presley Bongani K. Ndimba Jonathan S. Schilling |
| author_sort | Gerald N. Presley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sweet sorghum is a promising crop for a warming, drying African climate, and basic information is lacking on conversion pathways for its lignocellulosic residues (bagasse). Brown rot wood-decomposer fungi use carbohydrate-selective pathways that, when assessed on sorghum, a grass substrate, can yield information relevant to both plant biomass conversion and fungal biology. In testing sorghum decomposition by brown rot fungi (Gloeophyllum trabeum, Serpula lacrymans), we found that G. trabeum readily degraded sorghum, removing xylan prior to removing glucan. Serpula lacrymans, conversely, caused little decomposition. Ergosterol (fungal biomarker) and protein levels were similar for both fungi, but S. lacrymans produced nearly 4x lower polysaccharide-degrading enzyme specific activity on sorghum than G. trabeum, perhaps a symptom of starvation. Linking this information to genome comparisons including other brown rot fungi known to have a similar issue regarding decomposing grasses (Postia placenta, Fomitopsis pinicola) suggested that a lack of CE 1 feruloyl esterases as well as low xylanase activity in S. lacrymans (3x lower than in G. trabeum) may hinder S. lacrymans, P. placenta, and F. pinicola when degrading grass substrates. These results indicate variability in brown rot mechanisms, which may stem from a differing ability to degrade certain lignin-carbohydrate complexes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4902284f6246489b83c508a3b062ad38 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-918X 1687-9198 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | International Journal of Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-4902284f6246489b83c508a3b062ad382025-02-03T06:44:01ZengWileyInternational Journal of Microbiology1687-918X1687-91982018-01-01201810.1155/2018/49617264961726Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic ImplicationsGerald N. Presley0Bongani K. Ndimba1Jonathan S. Schilling2Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2004 Folwell Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108, USAAgricultural Research Council of South Africa (ARC-Infruitec/Nietvoorbij), Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South AfricaDepartment of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2004 Folwell Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108, USASweet sorghum is a promising crop for a warming, drying African climate, and basic information is lacking on conversion pathways for its lignocellulosic residues (bagasse). Brown rot wood-decomposer fungi use carbohydrate-selective pathways that, when assessed on sorghum, a grass substrate, can yield information relevant to both plant biomass conversion and fungal biology. In testing sorghum decomposition by brown rot fungi (Gloeophyllum trabeum, Serpula lacrymans), we found that G. trabeum readily degraded sorghum, removing xylan prior to removing glucan. Serpula lacrymans, conversely, caused little decomposition. Ergosterol (fungal biomarker) and protein levels were similar for both fungi, but S. lacrymans produced nearly 4x lower polysaccharide-degrading enzyme specific activity on sorghum than G. trabeum, perhaps a symptom of starvation. Linking this information to genome comparisons including other brown rot fungi known to have a similar issue regarding decomposing grasses (Postia placenta, Fomitopsis pinicola) suggested that a lack of CE 1 feruloyl esterases as well as low xylanase activity in S. lacrymans (3x lower than in G. trabeum) may hinder S. lacrymans, P. placenta, and F. pinicola when degrading grass substrates. These results indicate variability in brown rot mechanisms, which may stem from a differing ability to degrade certain lignin-carbohydrate complexes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4961726 |
| spellingShingle | Gerald N. Presley Bongani K. Ndimba Jonathan S. Schilling Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic Implications International Journal of Microbiology |
| title | Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic Implications |
| title_full | Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic Implications |
| title_fullStr | Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic Implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic Implications |
| title_short | Brown Rot-Type Fungal Decomposition of Sorghum Bagasse: Variable Success and Mechanistic Implications |
| title_sort | brown rot type fungal decomposition of sorghum bagasse variable success and mechanistic implications |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4961726 |
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