Comparison of decomposition and adaptation capability of indigenous peat cellulolytic microorganisms

Abstract

Cellulolytic microorganisms play an essential role in the weathering of lignocellulosic materials. An experiment conducted was to study the potential of indigenous peat cellulolytic microorganisms to decompose peat and adapt to life outside the peat ecosystem. Indigenous cellulolytic bacteria of peat, Comamonas testosteroni, and Delftia lacustris, and indigenous cellulolytic fungi of peat, Penicillium singorense, Aspergillus aculeatus, and Trichoderma sp. were tested their capability for that case. In a greenhouse, each cellulolytic bacteria and fungi colony inoculated to the peat were as treatments and peat without inoculation as control. The study also tested their adaptability to grow in media outside the peat, such as charcoal and zeolite mixed with processed coffee and cacao residue in Lab. The cellulolytic fungi were a little stronger than cellulolytic bacteria in peat decomposition. The fungi reduced the organic C of peat by 13.9%, while the bacteria were only 6.4%. The CO2 flux from peat inoculated by fungi colony, 0.68 mg CO2/kg peat, and by bacteria colony, 0.64 mg CO2/kg peat. Both microbes adapted to the environment outside of peat, especially charcoal and zeolite mixed with coffee and cacao residue. However, cellulolytic bacteria were more robust than cellulolytic fungi if living simultaneously in the same media.