The production of exo-enzymes of Lentinus edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus and their use for upgrading corn straw
Author(s)
Giovannozzi Sermanni Giovanni
Di Lena Gabriella
Vitale Nicoletta
Date Issued
1994
Type
article
Volume
48
Start Page
173-178
Journal or Series
Abstract
The influence of the growth of two white-rot fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus edodes, on the composition and on the digestibility of corn straw (Zea mais) was evaluated. P. ostreatus and L. edodes showed a different pattern of release of extracellular enzymes, including phenol-oxidases, cellulases and xylanases. The best results in terms of delignification and increase in digestibility were obtained in L. edodes cultures. When the two fungi were grown in submerged fermentation conditions in the presence of a water-soluble lignin-rich copolymer, a crude filtrate containing phenol-oxidases but no cellulolytic enzymes was obtained. Corn straw, treated with the above mentioned crude filtrate and subjected to paper pulping, gave paper handsheets with improved technical properties (freenes, breaking length and burst index).