COMPARISON OF AMYLOLYTIC AND PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITIES OF RUMINAL FUNGI GROWN ON CEREAL-GRAINS

Strains of the ruminal fungi Neocallimastix patriciarum, Orpinomyces j oyonii, and Piromyces communis were grown on cellobiose and on cereal grains and then examined for proteolytic and amylolytic activities. On cellobiose all three fungi displayed similar activities, with the exc eption of little amylolytic activity in the cell-associated fraction o f N. patriciarum. Growth on the cereal grains barley, corn, and wheat showed differences in proteolytic and amylolytic activities amongst th e ruminal fungi and between the cereal grains. The data suggest that w hile these fungi are capable of fermenting the cereal grains the mode of enzymatic attack varies both with the particular fungus and the typ e of cereal grain.