Transmission electron microscopic observations of the white-rot fungi Trametes hirsuta and Phanerochaete chrysosporium grown on a series of wood pulp with a graded lignin content and mycelium from the clarified centre of an agar-medium containing lignin (E1-effluent from the bleaching process) showed that osmiophilic particles are only induced by native lignin. Taking into account that the osmiophilic particles are also produced by brown-rot fungi the conclusion is drawn that they take part in the enzymatic demethylation of lignin. Their distribution over surfaces embeded in a slimy matrix correlates with their appearance in wood.

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