Enzyme activities of fungi associated with Picea abies needles

Decomposition of Picea abies needles and production of extracellular enzymes involved in decomposition of lignin, cellulose, hemicelluloses and other organic compounds were studied in fungal strains of interior needle colonizers isolated from needles in different stages of decomposition (attached to trees, and early and late decomposition stages in the litter horizon). In total, 12 strains of ascomycetes (members of Helotiales, Hypocreales, Dothideales, Diaporthales and Eurotiales) and four basidiomycetes (Polyporales, Agaricales and Russulales) were tested. Significant decomposition of needles was recorded for all fungal isolates. All isolates produced cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, α-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulfatase and most fungi also produced endocellulase, endoxylanase and laccase in needle litter. In addition, other hemicellulases were produced by all strains. Mn-peroxidase was only produced by two basidiomycetes. Although enzyme activities varied, fungi associated with needles on fallen trees exhibited enzyme production comparable with later litter colonizers, and there was no significant difference in enzyme production between ascomycete and basidiomycete strains.