It is generally accepted that dead tree decomposition is performed mainly by delignifying basidiomycetes. While ascomycetes have been reported to inhabit dead tree bark, their contribution to dead tree decomposition is still unclear. Here, we isolated five bark-inhabiting ascomycetes possessing cellulolytic activity from dead beech tree and assessed their polysaccharolytic activities. When cultivated in a medium containing filter paper as a sole carbon source, three strains degraded >40 % of the filter paper in a 4-week cultivation and the others degraded 15-30 % of the paper. The degraders possessed amylolytic, pectinolytic, and mannanolytic activities as well as cellulolytic activity, implying that they play an important role in dead tree decomposition after delignification by basidiomycetes. Phylogenetic analysis based on large subunit ribosomal DNA (lsu-DNA) sequences implied that the isolates belonged to Penicillium or Amorphotheca.

• MeSH
• Amylose metabolism   MeSH
• Ascomycota classification   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Fagus microbiology   MeSH
• Cellulose metabolism   MeSH
• DNA, Fungal chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Fungal genetics   MeSH
• Genes, rRNA MeSH
• Culture Media chemistry   MeSH
• Mannans metabolism   MeSH
• Environmental Microbiology MeSH
• Paper MeSH
• Pectins metabolism   MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal genetics   MeSH
• Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Amylose MeSH
• Cellulose MeSH
• DNA, Fungal MeSH
• RNA, Fungal MeSH
• Culture Media MeSH
• Mannans MeSH
• Pectins MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal MeSH
• RNA, ribosomal, 26S MeSH Browser