Biodegradation of coir waste by microfungi: An electron microscopic study

P.Y. Yau and R.J. Murphy

Abstract

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) were used to study morphological aspects of cell wall ultrastructure during the biodegradation of coir waste by microfungi. SEM microscopy revealed extensive hyphae penetration and colonisation through either parenchyma cell surface, cell lumena or intercellular spaces and collapse of cell walls at the advanced stage of degradation. TEM microscopy provided further details of the fungal enzymatic activities in the cell walls during biodegradation of coir waste as seen from the presence of electron dense and the extracellular mucilaginous materials found around the hyphae. The attack on the coir waste cell walls was typical of soft rot decay with cavity formation evident. The cavities were mainly found in the
secondary cell walls and, at advanced stages of decay, were also found in the middle lamella and the cell corner regions.

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