DEGRADATION OF WHEAT-STRAW BY A MICROBIAL COMMUNITY - STIMULATION BY A POLYSACCHARIDASE COMPLEX

Laboratory-scale reactors were used to watch aspects of biodegradation of wheat straw when supplemented with polysaccharidases (Czym) to increase the enzyme production of microorganisms involved during a composting process for mushroom production. Biochemical and biological parameters were tested both under aerobic and O-2-limited conditions to assess degradability. These were measurement of released CO2 and NH3, determination of neutral detergent fibre content and cellulase activities from compost extract. The addition of Czym to decomposing straw had three consequences: (i) it supplied and released low quantities of readily available sugars: (ii) it increased the cellulase activities in the substrates; (iii) it increased the number of bacteria under aerobic conditions. The three effects were linked and the small quantity of sugars released by the addition of Czym may have acted as an activator of bacterial activities through an inductive mechanism.