Production of exraxellular hydrogen peroxide and oxalic acid by brown-rot fungus Poria placenta
IRG/WP 95-10112
A-C Ritschkoff, M Rättö, J Buchert, L Viikari
Hydrogen peroxide and oxalic acid have been suggested to be essential in the degradation of wood carbohydrates by brown-rot fungi. Hydrogen peroxide has been suggested to be one of the diffusible low molecular weight agents produced by brown-rot fungi for the degradation of wood carbohydrates by generating highly active radicals. The production of hydrogen peroxide and oxalic acid by Poria placenta was studied on crystalline cellulose, amorphous cellulose and glucose media. Hydrogen peroxide and oxalic acid were clearly produced on culture media containing either amorphous or crystalline cellulose. Hydrogen peroxide and oxalic acid were formed simultaneously and highest amounts of these compounds were obtained on amorphous cellulose. The production of hydrogen peroxide and oxalic acid was surprisingly low on glucose medium.