Cellulose Decomposition by Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria from Soil

Abstract

Quantitative studies were made of the utilization of filter paper and cornstalk cellulose prepns. by 10 cultures of aerobic cellulose-decomposing bacteria. 5 recently described spp. were included, Pseudomonas ephemerocyanea, Pseudomonas lasia, Pseudomonas erythra, Achromobacter picrum, and Bacillus aporrhoeus, together with 4 strains of Sporocytophaga myxococcoides. The more active organisms utilized about h of the filter paper supplied in 14 days. Cornstalk cellulose was far more extensively decomposed by all oganisms in equal time. The presence of xylan in the cellulosan component of the cornstalk cellulose favored decomposition. The xylan was utilized extensively by all organisms including those forms believed to be specialized. About 75% of the xylan was more readily available than the remaining \. Extracted cornstalk cellulose, so treated as to remove the major part of the xylan, resembled filter paper in availability. The xylan remaining was not preferentially attacked, and appeared to be no more available than the cellulose with which it was associated. Biological support is provided for the opinion that a portion of the xylan may be present in imperfect cellulose chains.