Degradation Efficacy of Pinus radiata Don Needle Leaf …
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found to be Thelophora terrestris with 5.9 and 12.1% for both 90 and 180 days
of degradation. In the case of degradation of bark the control samples have shown
72.8 and 72.0% for 90 and 180 days. The fungal treated ones have shown 60.0 and
68.0% of degradation for 90 and 55.1 and 60.6% for 180 days, with respect to the
fungal genera involved in the holocellulose degradation (Table 1). The most efficient
fungi involved in the degradation of bark was found to be Heterobasidion annosum
with 12.8% for 90 days, whereas Polyporus squamosus with 16.9% for 180 days of
degradation (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6).
The Pinus radiata forest ecosystem consists of specific holocellulose degrading
fungi are Colricia perennis, Heterobasidion annosum, Polyporus squamosus and
Thelophora terrestris in which the most efficient holocellulose degrading fungi of
needle leaf was Colricia perennis with 5.1% at 90 days and Thelophora terrestris
with 10.3% at 180 days. For twig Thelophora terrestris with 5.1% at 90 days and
12.1% at 180 days of degradation. In the case of bark Heterobasidion annosum
with 12.8% and Polyporus squamosus with 16.9% of degradation (ASTMD 1104-56
(1978)).
3.3 Hot Water Soluble Content
The volume of the soluble content of Pinus radiata needle leaf, twig and bark in
hot water is shown in Table 1. It was found that the duration of inoculation in all
the sample tested was found to be increased in solubility in hot water treatment.
The value of soluble content varied depending on the fungi inoculated. For needle
leaf the value of soluble content was 31.5–36.0% as against control sample 30.3%
in 90 days. At 180 days, the value of soluble content was 62.3–72.5% as against
the control sample 53.8%. The maximum hot water soluble content was recorded in
Colricia perennis, 5.7% for 90th day of degradation and 18.7% on the 180th day for
the same fungus. In the case of twig, the percentage was between 62.1 and 68.2%
as against 54.3% for control in 90 days. In 180 days, the results are between 77.0
and 84.0% when compared with the control 73.5%. The maximum hot water soluble
content was found in Heterobasidion annosum with 13.9% on the 90
th day and 10.5%
on the 180
th day of degradation for Colricia perennis. For bark sample, the percentage
of soluble content was 67.1–68.5% as against the control, it was 64.3% at 90 days. In
180 days, the results are between 78.5 and 84.0% as against the control it was 75.0%.
The maximum hot water soluble content was found in Colricia perennis with 4.2%
on the 90th day and 9.0% on the 180th day of degradation for Polyporus squamosus.
In this study, the hot-water solubility of treated samples increased significantly
with incubation time meaning that some amount of lignocellulose content was
degraded. This is presumably supported by the monosaccharides in leaf, twig and
bark samples like xylose, mannose and glucose (Pinto et al. 2005; Abubacker and
Kirthiga 2015) which are soluble in water, besides the degradation of cellulose
containing polymers and polysaccharides into simpler components like monomers
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found to be Thelophora terrestris with 5.9 and 12.1% for both 90 and 180 days
of degradation. In the case of degradation of bark the control samples have shown
72.8 and 72.0% for 90 and 180 days. The fungal treated ones have shown 60.0 and
68.0% of degradation for 90 and 55.1 and 60.6% for 180 days, with respect to the
fungal genera involved in the holocellulose degradation (Table 1). The most efficient
fungi involved in the degradation of bark was found to be Heterobasidion annosum
with 12.8% for 90 days, whereas Polyporus squamosus with 16.9% for 180 days of
degradation (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6).
The Pinus radiata forest ecosystem consists of specific holocellulose degrading
fungi are Colricia perennis, Heterobasidion annosum, Polyporus squamosus and
Thelophora terrestris in which the most efficient holocellulose degrading fungi of
needle leaf was Colricia perennis with 5.1% at 90 days and Thelophora terrestris
with 10.3% at 180 days. For twig Thelophora terrestris with 5.1% at 90 days and
12.1% at 180 days of degradation. In the case of bark Heterobasidion annosum
with 12.8% and Polyporus squamosus with 16.9% of degradation (ASTMD 1104-56
(1978)).
3.3 Hot Water Soluble Content
The volume of the soluble content of Pinus radiata needle leaf, twig and bark in
hot water is shown in Table 1. It was found that the duration of inoculation in all
the sample tested was found to be increased in solubility in hot water treatment.
The value of soluble content varied depending on the fungi inoculated. For needle
leaf the value of soluble content was 31.5–36.0% as against control sample 30.3%
in 90 days. At 180 days, the value of soluble content was 62.3–72.5% as against
the control sample 53.8%. The maximum hot water soluble content was recorded in
Colricia perennis, 5.7% for 90th day of degradation and 18.7% on the 180th day for
the same fungus. In the case of twig, the percentage was between 62.1 and 68.2%
as against 54.3% for control in 90 days. In 180 days, the results are between 77.0
and 84.0% when compared with the control 73.5%. The maximum hot water soluble
content was found in Heterobasidion annosum with 13.9% on the 90
th day and 10.5%
on the 180
th day of degradation for Colricia perennis. For bark sample, the percentage
of soluble content was 67.1–68.5% as against the control, it was 64.3% at 90 days. In
180 days, the results are between 78.5 and 84.0% as against the control it was 75.0%.
The maximum hot water soluble content was found in Colricia perennis with 4.2%
on the 90th day and 9.0% on the 180th day of degradation for Polyporus squamosus.
In this study, the hot-water solubility of treated samples increased significantly
with incubation time meaning that some amount of lignocellulose content was
degraded. This is presumably supported by the monosaccharides in leaf, twig and
bark samples like xylose, mannose and glucose (Pinto et al. 2005; Abubacker and
Kirthiga 2015) which are soluble in water, besides the degradation of cellulose
containing polymers and polysaccharides into simpler components like monomers