Studies on Fungal Degradation of Wheat Straw

Six fungi, i.e. Paecilomyces varioti, Alternaria tenius, Fusarium oxysporium, Tricho-thecium roseum Neurospora crussa and Aspergillus niger were ggown on hydrated wheaattraw. under aseptically controlled conditions at 26±2°C, and at room temperature (16°C’±4°C) in winter season. Urea and ammonium sulphate mixture (85 : 15) was used to supply nitrogen and sulphur for fungal growth. A comparative study under the two environmental conditions revealed that A. tenius resulted decrease in NDF, ADF and lignin and hemicellulose contents, upto 19.08, 15.20, 52.58 and 36.39 per cent at 26°C and 16.48, 10.17, 25.68 and 40.80 per cent, respectively at room temperature. Correspondingly CP, and bound protein contents increased significantly to 15.53% ‘.and 12.54% at 26°C and room temperature (P<0.01). Dry matter disappearance (DMD) as estimated by nylon bag technique was significantly (P<0.01) more in all the cases except N. crassa and F. oxysporium and was positively correlated with Iignin degradation.