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Research article2015Peer reviewed

Cytochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of wood decayed by the white rot fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus I. preferential lignin degradation prior to hemicelluloses in Norway spruce wood

Kim, Jongsik; Gao, Jie; Daniel, Geoffrey; Kim, Jong Sik

Abstract

Degradation of lignin and non-cellulosic polysaccharides (pectins and hemicelluloses) in Norway spruce wood (softwood) by the white rot fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus was investigated using transmission electron microscopy coupled with immunocytochemistry. P.sanguineus produced selective decay in xylem cells including tracheids, ray tracheids and ray parenchyma cells. Lignin was preferentially removed first from cell walls with hemicelluloses (xylan and mannan) and cellulose remaining. Lignin in compound middle lamella (CML) regions of tracheids was also preferentially degraded prior to degradation of xyloglucan (hemicellulose). This differs from the previous concept of wood decay by selective white rot fungi demonstrating concomitant degradation of lignin and hemicelluloses. In contrast, no clear preferential degradation of lignin prior to pectins and hemicelluloses was observed in middle lamella cell corner (MLcc) regions of tracheids which were the last regions to be attacked by the fungus. Micromorphologically, prominent cell separation between tracheids by delignification of CML regions before complete degradation of secondary cell walls was observed as evidence of selective decay. Variations in resistance to decay by the fungus depending on cell wall orientation (radial vs. tangential) of tracheids and between cell types were also observed.

Keywords

Hemicelluloses; Immunocytochemistry; Lignin; Norway spruce (softwood); Pycnoporus sanguineus; Selective decay

Published in

International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation
2015, Volume: 105, pages: 30-40

      SLU Authors

    • Kim, Jongsik

      • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Gao, Jie

        • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        • Daniel, Geoffrey

          • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        Associated SLU-program

        SLU Plant Protection Network

        UKÄ Subject classification

        Wood Science
        Forest Science

        Publication identifier

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2015.08.008

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/68594