Cooperative Decomposition of Rice Straw by Co-cultivation of Cellulolytic Fungi

Abstract

Cooperative action of cellulolytic microbes provides the basis for lignocellulose decomposition in nature and is considered as a potent approach for developing efficient microbial agents for biotechnological applications, such as degradation of agricultural wastes. In this study, the co-cultivated cellulolytic fungal cultures on effective decomposition of rice straw was explored. Single-strain culture of cellulolytic fungi led to 2-14% weight loss of rice straw after incubation at 30 ฐC for 14 d under static conditions in a simplified medium containing 0.1% (w/v) urea. Co-cultivation of Penicillium oxalicum BCC4504 and Cheatomium globusum BCC5776; P. oxalicum BCC4504 and Trichoderma reesei BCC62305; and Aspergillus niger BCC5772 and C. globusum BCC5776 could increase rice straw decomposition as high as 20%, compared to a single-strain culture. This work shows potential of the fungal co-cultures as active biological agents in order to diminish rice straw for more sustainable farming.