Evaluating the degradation potential of whiterot fungi

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro degrading potential of white-rot fungi in sawdust of eucalyptus clones. The white-rot fungi species tested were: Pycnoporus sanguineus, Phellinus gilvus and Schizophyllum commune. The experiment was carried out in factorial arrangement 3 x 3, displayed in a completed randomized design. The analysed parameters were: diameter of the mycelial growth (cm), speed of growth (cm day^-1), mycelial density of the fungal isolate and loss of sawdust mass (%). The isolated Pycnoporus sanguineus and Phellinus gilvus presented higher speed growth and resulted in higher loss of sawdust mass when compared to Schizophyllum commune. Pycnoporus sanguineus presented the highest mycelial density in all clones tested. Clone 2361 resulted in the smallest fungal isolate growth and smaller loss of sawdust mass, but it favored the formation of moderately and highly dense mycelial in all isolates. The most efficient in in vitro degradation of eucalyptus sawdust was achieved with Pycnoporus sanguineus and Phellinus gilvus.