90
M. N. Abubacker and M. Prince
Fig. 1 a Study area. b Pine forest with Pinus radiata Don
2.2 Decomposition Study by Litterbag Method
The leaf, twig and bark used for decomposition study was picked from the respective
forest floor and placed in sterile polythene bags. The fungal fruit body was also
collected in sterile polythene bags and brought to the laboratory and inoculated in the
malt-extract agar medium and the growth mycelia was used for further experimental
work. They were cultured in medium modified by Miura and Kudo (1970) contains
glucose 0.1%, KH 2 PO 4 0.1%, MgSO 4 , 7H 2 O 0.02%, KCl 0.02%, NaNO 3 0.2%,
Yeast extract 0.02%. The decomposition study pertaining to holocellulose, lignin
and hot water soluble content was studied with a litter bag methods (Crossley and
Hoglund 1962) as well as Erlenmeyer flask method.
2.3 Determination of Lignin Content
TAPPI Standard method, T 222 OS-74 (2009) procedure was followed for the determination of lignin content. One gram of air-dried sample was weighed out accurately
in a weighing bottle and transferred to a 50 ml beaker, then 10 ml of 72% sulphuric
acid was added carefully with a pipette and the mixture was stirred with a glass rod.
M. N. Abubacker and M. Prince
Fig. 1 a Study area. b Pine forest with Pinus radiata Don
2.2 Decomposition Study by Litterbag Method
The leaf, twig and bark used for decomposition study was picked from the respective
forest floor and placed in sterile polythene bags. The fungal fruit body was also
collected in sterile polythene bags and brought to the laboratory and inoculated in the
malt-extract agar medium and the growth mycelia was used for further experimental
work. They were cultured in medium modified by Miura and Kudo (1970) contains
glucose 0.1%, KH 2 PO 4 0.1%, MgSO 4 , 7H 2 O 0.02%, KCl 0.02%, NaNO 3 0.2%,
Yeast extract 0.02%. The decomposition study pertaining to holocellulose, lignin
and hot water soluble content was studied with a litter bag methods (Crossley and
Hoglund 1962) as well as Erlenmeyer flask method.
2.3 Determination of Lignin Content
TAPPI Standard method, T 222 OS-74 (2009) procedure was followed for the determination of lignin content. One gram of air-dried sample was weighed out accurately
in a weighing bottle and transferred to a 50 ml beaker, then 10 ml of 72% sulphuric
acid was added carefully with a pipette and the mixture was stirred with a glass rod.