The degradation of lignocellulose was higher in the enriched co-culture of ruminal fungi and methanogens than the enriched co-culture of bacteria and methanogens

摘要

The rumen is a complicated microbial ecosystem, which includes anaerobic fungi, bacteria, protozoa and methanogens. Ruminants themselves cannot utilize the lignocellulosic plant biomass as they have no ability to produce biomass-degrading enzymes. Onthe other hand, the symbiotic microorganisms can hydrolyze the biomass to generate energy for themselves, as well as for the host ruminants. Reports have indicated that anaerobic fungi contributed to greater degradation of plant cell walls compared to bacteria as revealed by selecting the microbial groups in rumen fluids (Akin et al., 1989; Lee et al., 2000). However, the metabolic profiles and extent of lignocellulosic degradation by anaerobic fungi and bacteria in the presence of aboriginal methanogens are unclarified. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate In vitro degradation of crude lignocellulose by ruminal fungi and bacteria in the presence of ruminal methanogens and their metabolic profiles.