BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL INHIBITION OF LIGNO-CELLULOSE DECAY BY WHITE ROT BASIDIOMYCETES

Abstract

The white rot decay of coconut fibres caused by pure cultures of the basidiomycetes Trametes versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Lloyd and Stereum rugosum (Pers. ex Fr.) Fr. was strongly inhibited by the previous inoculation of cellulolytic fungi belonging to the ascomycetes and Fungi imperfecti. Generally, the total white rot decay was hardly or moderately inhibited when the basidiomycete was inoculated first. The cause of this biological inhibition is discussed. Another aspect of the present study is the toxicity of copper and zinc ions on the white rot decay of coir caused by the basidiomycetes mentioned. The effect of copper and zinc ions on coir degradation in non-sterilized soil is also demonstrated.