SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION OF SUGARCANE BAGASSE WITH FLAMMULINA VELUTIPES AND TRAMETES-VERSICOLOR

The mushroom Flammulina velutipes and the white-rot fungus Trametes ve rsicolor were cultivated separately on sugarcane bagasse for 40 days. Trametes versicolor produced laccase and manganese-peroxidase activiti es, showing a simultaneous degradation of lignin and holocellulose. Ho wever, only phenoloxidase activity was found with Flammulina velutipes . A preferential degradation of lignin was detected in F. velutipes, w hich exhibited a greater reduction in the ratio of weight loss to lign in loss than T. versicolor. A decrease in the syringyl/guaiacyl ratio observed with both fungi indicated the preferential degradation of non -condensed (syringyl-type) lignin units. An increase in the relative a bundance of aromatic carboxylic acids suggested that the oxidative tra nsformation of lignin unit side-chains was occurring. This was more no ticeable with Flammulina velutipes than with T. versicolor.