Potential of Lignin-Degrading Endophytic Fungi on Lignocellulosic Biorefineries

Abstract

Renewable lignocellulosic biomass is considered as feedstocks to play a significant role in the future of biorefineries for the sustainable production of food, chemicals, materials, and biofuels. Lignin, the natural barrier that protects cellulose and hemicelluloses from microbial attack, represents an important limiting factor in these processes. Removal of lignin has a vast scope with central importance to be utilized as a source of carbohydrates in the manufacturing of cellulose-based chemicals including paper pulp and ethanol production. Enzymes produced by ligninolytic fungi acted as an alternative to develop competent and eco-friendly technologies to use biomass of lignin and cellulose. Among these microorganisms, the “white-rot” causing fungi that belong to basidiomycetes are potential contenders of efficient depolymerization and mineralization of lignin via secretion of low molecular mass oxidative enzymes. Recently, some endophytic fungi have been tested for ligninolytic enzymes and their possible biotechnological applications. This chapter highlights the recent progress that has been made in screening endophytic fungi for ligninolytic activities and their capacities for transforming lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars and paper pulps in a biorefinery framework.