A light microscopy study on the cell walls decay of biodegraded coir waste

P. Y. Yau and R. J. Murphy

Abstract

A light microscopy study on the cell walls decay of biodegraded coir waste by a group of micro-fungi (Chaetomium globosum, Humicola grisea, Trichoderma reesii, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus niger) was conducted. This study gave conclusive evidence of hyphal penetration, colonisation, cell wall decay and destruction by the soft rot fungi (C. globosum and H. grisea). The hyphae of these soft rot fungi penetrated through pits into adjacent cells and severely degraded the cell walls by formation of cavities. However, the moulds (T. reesii, P. citrinum and A. niger) only penetrated the cell walls and did not cause any severe cell walls destruction.

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