From: Treseder KK, Lennon JT. 2015. Fungal traits that drive ecosystem dynamics on land. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 79:243-262. Fungi use extracellular peroxidases to oxidize lignin, ostensibly to obtain access to cellulose, N, and other nutrients that are physically or chemically protected by lignin in plant litter (Tien and Kent Kirk 1983, Martínez et al. […]
decomposition
Fungal trait: Breakdown of cellulose
From: Treseder KK, Lennon JT. 2015. Fungal traits that drive ecosystem dynamics on land. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 79:243-262. Cellulose is a major component of plant cell walls, and, accordingly, the most abundant biopolymer on land (Klemm et al. 2005). It is essentially a chain of glucose units that can be used by fungi for […]
Fungal genes for ecosystem-related traits
From: Treseder KK, Lennon JT. 2015. Fungal traits that drive ecosystem dynamics on land. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 79:243-262. Functional genes can indicate the genetic potential of fungal taxa to carry particular traits, and they are especially informative if their function has been empirically verified in mutant or transcription assays in at least one fungus […]