Production of wood decay enzymes, mass loss and lignin solubilization in wood by marine ascomycetes and their anamorphs

Abstract

A study was carried out to establish the wood decay ability for a large number of diverse marine ascomycetes and their anamorphs. In vitro production of cellulase and xylanase was widespread among forty-seven fungi. Production of enzymes involved in lignin degradation was comparatively less common. Most isolates were capable of causing mass loss in a birch wood substrate although values were low (<5%) during a 24-week period. A few ascomycetes caused higher mass loss of up to 20.1%. In all cases wood decay was greater in exposed rather than submerged conditions. Ascocratera manglicola, Astrosphaeriella striatispora, Cryptovalsa halosarceicola, Linocarpon bipolaris and Rhizophila marina, were shown to solubilize significant amounts of lignin, with indices of lignin solubilization comparable to those of terrestrial white-rot basidiomycetes. Certain marine ascomycetes may therefore fulfill an equivalent ecological role.