Cellulose Degradation Potential of Acacia dealbata Link. Leaf Litter in Virgin Forest Ecosystem of Ooty by Microfungi in Relation to CO2 Release

M. N. Abubacker* and M. Prince

¹Department of Biotechnology, National College, Tiruchirappalli - 620 001, India.

²PG Department of Botany, National College, Tiruchirappalli - 620 001, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: abubacker_nct@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: Isolation, identification and cellulose degradation potentials of Microfungal flora of virgin forest soils of Ooty were investigated using soil dilution plate and warcup methods. A total of 40 microfungi were isolated from forest soils dominated by Acacia dealbata Link., Cupreses torulosa Don., Eucalyptus globules Labill. and Pinus radiatia Don. The results indicate Acremonium sp., 11 Aspergillus spp., Botrytis sp., 2 Chaetomium spp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., 4 Fusarium spp., Helminthosporium sp., Humicola sp., Memnoniella sp., Mortierella sp., 2 Mucor spp., Paecilomyces sp., 4 Penicillium spp., Periconia sp., Pleospora sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Rhizopus sp., Trichoderma sp., Trichosporiella sp. and Trichothecium sp. were the fungal genera. Among them the most widespread genera were Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. The cellulose degradation potential of these fungi were examined. Carbondioxide (CO2) release during degradation of cellulose was used as an index to determine the extend of biodegradation. Acremonium sp., Humicola sp., Memnoniella sp., Paecilomyces sp., Periconia sp. and Trichothecium sp. released more CO2 with leaf litter used as substrate of biodegradation.

KEYWORDS: Biodegradation; Microfungi; CO2 release; Forest ecosystem; Cellulose decomposition

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