Litter forms the major portion of the net primary production in natural ecosystems and in most managed forests and grasslands. Litter is the surface layer of the forest floor consisting of freshly fallen leaves, needles, twigs, stems, bark and fruits. Litter biota varies with depth and with stage of decay. Litter contain about 20–50% lignin. Because of the size and complexity of lignin, its decomposition rate is slow. Fungi especially Basidiomycetes are generally recognized as the major group responsible for lignin degradation. The lignolytic enzymes are being used in food, textile, paper industries and in the degradation of lignin rich agro-waste. In the present work lignin degrading fungi were isolated from the litter of evergreen forest of Kodagu D. About 58% of the total fungi isolated were found to be potential lignin degraders. The isolates were tested for enzyme activity and those showing maximum activity were tested for their efficiency to degrade areca and coffee husk. The Chaetomium sp, Penicillium sp, Aspergillus sp and Trichoderma sp were found to degrade areca and coffee husk effectively.
Degradation, Screening, Lignin, Lignolytic activity, Evergreen forest and Litter
