ULTRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF LIGNOCELLULOSE DEGRADATION BY SOME MICROORGANISMS

Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe fungal growth and the degradation of nutrient supplemented lignocellulose material chips af ter 8 weeks of incubation with three white-rot bisidiomycetes and Stre ptomyces viridosporus NRRL2414. All fungal strains grew well both acro ss the chip surfaces and through the lumina of wood vessel and fiber c ells as well as through natural wood cell pits and fungal bore holes. The white-rot fungi disrupted fiber surfaces, as shown by a fibral sep aration of eroded areas. Localized wall fragmentation and thinning wer e dearly visible.