Selectively enzymatic conversion of wood constituents with white and brown rot fungi

Abstract

Lignocellulosic material is a natural renewable resource and can provide great potential in bioconversion and bioenergy production. This work studied the bioconversion processes of Pinus yunnanensis with white and brown rot fungi treatment, namely T. versicolor, G. trabeum and R. placenta, aiming to clarify the mechanism of enzymatic process and fungi’s intrinsic selectivity in fungal pretreatment during various conversion stages. The results showed that fungi achieved the decomposition and conversion of biomass through the generation of enzymes as well as their action within wood. White rot fungus T. versicolor caused simultaneous rot, which the bioconversion of wood main components occurred uniformly. Brown rot fungi exhibited the ability to depolymerize carbohydrate but degraded polysaccharides with their own bioconversion pathway, and as such caused different conversion of wood chemical components. Morphology observation proved that both white and brown rot fungal pretreatments increased the porosity and improved the accessibility of wood cells. Three kinds of fungi possess the ability to improve the digestibility, but with various situations of the substrate loss. In addition, these three fungi presented their promising potentials in different aspects as well. The research outcomes could provide insight into the mechanism of enzymatic process and role of fungal selectivity on Pinus yunnanensis bioconversion as well as the potential application of fungal pretreatment in future biorefineries and biochemical productions.