title: Effects of selected pectinolytic bacterial strains on water-retting of hemp and fibre properties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of selected bacterial strains on hemp water-retting and properties of retted fibre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The trials were performed in laboratory tanks. The traditional water-retting process, without inoculum addition, was compared to a process modified by inoculating water tanks with two selected pectinolytic bacteria: the anaerobic strain Clostridium sp. L1/6 and the aerobic strain Bacillus sp. ROO40B. Six different incubation times were compared. Half the fibre obtained from each tank was combed. Micromorphological analyses were performed by scanning electron microscopy on uncombed and combed fibres. Moreover, organoleptic and chemical analyses of uncombed fibres were performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inoculum, besides speeding up the process, significantly improved the fibre quality. The fibre was not damaged by mechanical hackling, thanks to the good retting level obtained by the addition of selected strains, differently to what happened with the traditionally retted fibre. The best fibre quality was obtained after 3-4 days of retting with the addition of the bacterial inoculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retting is the major limitation to an efficient production of high-quality hemp fibres. The water-retting process and fibre quality were substantially improved by simultaneously inoculating water tanks with two selected pectinolytic strains.
authors: C.R.A. - Istituto Sperimentale per le Colture Industriali, Bologna, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Di Candilo
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Bonatti
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Guidetti
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Focher
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Grippo
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Tamburini
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mastromei
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001407:Bacillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D002188:Cannabis; D003013:Clostridium / Q000254:growth & development*; D019597:Flax; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D010368:Pectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D010368:Pectins