Organism
White-Rot Fungi
TL;DR
Fungi that produce ligninase enzymes capable of breaking down lignin - one of nature's most recalcitrant polymers.
Fungi that produce ligninase enzymes capable of breaking down lignin - one of nature's most recalcitrant polymers. Without white-rot fungi, dead trees would accumulate indefinitely. This actually happened during the Carboniferous Period ~350 million years ago, before lignin-degrading fungi evolved; the accumulated dead trees from that era created today's coal deposits.
Notable Traits of White-Rot Fungi
- Lignin degradation
- Ligninase production
- Essential for wood decomposition