INTERACTION OF THE RUMEN FUNGUS ORPINOMYCES-JOYONII WITH MEGASPHAERA-ELSDENII AND EUBACTERIUM-LIMOSUM

The degradation and fermentation of microcrystalline cellulose were st udied in monoculture of the polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces j oyonii and in co-cultures with the rumen bacteria Megasphaera elsdenii and Eubacterium limosum. More than 25% of cellulose hydrolysis produc ts (glucose and cellodextrins) were released by the fungus into the me dium after 8 d of cultivation. These products were metabolized by bact eria in mixed cultures. In co-culture with the fungus M. elsdenii and E. limosum increased the extent of microcrystalline cellulose degradat ion by 10.12% and 7.96%, respectively. Biomass yield in co-cultures wa s increased by 89.9% and 59.4% for M. elsdenii and E. limosum. Y-cellu lose for fungus alone was 52.29 g dry matter mol(-1) glucose. These va lues were 64.93 and 55.92 g mol(-1) glucose unit in co-culture with M. elsdenii and E. limosum, respectively.