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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2015

Cytochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of wood decayed by the white rot fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus II. Degradation of lignin and non-cellulosic polysaccharides in European ash wood

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

Abstract

Degradation of lignin and non-cellulosic polysaccharides (pectins and hemicelluloses) by the white rot fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus were investigated in European ash wood (hardwood) using transmission electron microscopy coupled with immunocytochemistry. Lignin was preferentially removed in secondary cell walls of ash xylem cells including fibers, vessel and (ray/axial) parenchyma cells prior to degradation of hemicelluloses (i.e. selective decay). Concomitantly, degradation of cell walls occurred by progressive thinning from the lumen surface outwards similar to simultaneous decay. Preferential degradation of middle lamellae before complete degradation of secondary cell walls (i.e. a typical feature of selective decay) was only observed in bi-/triseriate rays by initial attack from pit regions. Vessel and parenchyma cells showed greater resistance to decay than fibers with narrower decay zone produced. A comparison of decay between ash and spruce wood (Part I, softwood) demonstrated that P.sanguineus produces selective decay in both hard- and softwoods but more typical micromorphological features of selective decay are produced in spruce tracheids than ash fibers. This study highlights that degradation of lignin proceeds hemicelluloses in wood cell walls attacked by the selective white rot fungus P.sanguineus.

Keywords

European ash (hardwood); Hemicelluloses; Immunocytochemistry; Lignin; Pycnoporus sanguineus; Selective decay

Published in

International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation
2015, Volume: 105, pages: 41-50

      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 Identifiers

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2015.08.009

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/68595