title: Biodelignification of lemon grass and citronella bagasse by white-rot fungi.
abstract: Twelve white-rot fungi were grown in solid-state culture on lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) bagasse. The two lignocellulosic substrates had 11% permanganate lignin and a holocellulose fraction of 58%. After 5 to 6 weeks at 20 degrees C, nine fungi produced a solid residue from lemon grass with a higher in vitro dry matter enzyme digestibility than the original bagasse; seven did the same for citronella. The best fungus for both substrates was Bondarzewia berkeleyi; it increased the in vitro dry matter enzyme digestibility to 22 and 24% for lemon grass and citronella, respectively. The increases were correlated with weight loss and lignin loss. All fungi decreased lignin contents: 36% of the original value for lemon grass and 28% for citronella. Practically all fungi showed a preference for hemicellulose over cellulose.
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Division, Central American Research Institute for Industry, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rolz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Leon
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Arriola
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Cabrera