Genes Involved in Lignocellulosic Breakdown by Fungi

Agricultural wastes are recognized as potential sources of both chemical feedstocks and as a source of energy. Globally, as one of the top cereal crops, wheat straw cold provide a valuable source of lignocellulosic residues As with other biomass wheat straw contains cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin.  Lignin is an insoluble polymer consisting of phenylpropanoid subunits randomly arranged, making the enzymatic hydrolysis of this polymer extremely difficult. Our work has concentrated on  ‘solid state fermentation’ (SSF) which can be defined as culturing microorganisms on solid, moist substrates without a free aqueous phase liquid phase. SSF provides an ideal substrate for filamentous fungi to grow. The capcity of various bacteria and fungii have been tested for their ability to degrade Ligin. Work will be presented identyfying putative gene candiadtes involved in the release of phenolic components from the biomass.