Mechanism of decomposition of jute and cellulose by a Corticium species

Abstract

Growth of a Corticium species on jute fabric exposed to 100% relative humidity led to staining and deterioration of the fiber, showing evidence of considerable oxalic acid production and cellulase activity. Pure oxalic acid in excess of quantities produced by the organism did not degrade jute fabric to any comparable extent, and decomposition of cotton cloth was even less pronounced. Strength losses of jute and cotton yarn as a result of treatment with the cell-free culture filtrate were greater by far than those caused by the autoclaved filtrate, again suggesting cellulase action rather than oxalic acid as the main cause for deterioration.When the fungus was grown on jute and cotton fabrics suspended in a nutrient solution, losses in fabric strength were lower.Filter paper suffered a very small loss in weight when used as substrate for growth. The cellulase appeared to be random-splitting, adaptive, and extracellular in character, showing optimum activity at pH 4.0 and temperature 58 °C.