Terrestrial ecosystems are dominated by plant biomass and fungi are a key component in the decomposition of lignocellulose. The matrix of lignocellulose in wood, composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and recalcitrant lignin is metabolized by specialized fungi. White rot fungi utilize mainly lignin and brown rot fungi rapidly depolymerize cellulose and leave modified lignin have been the most studied groups of decay fungi. However, such clear distinctions are not universal and this project seeks to ascertain the mechanisms of lignocellulose deconstruction employed by these unusual fungi.
Proposer: Daniel Cullen, Forest Products Laboratory
Proposal: Mechanisms of wood decay by soft rot fungi