Changes in lignocellulolytic enzyme activity during the degradation of Picea jezoensis wood by the white-rot fungus Porodaedalea pini

• A 60-day degradation caused significant changes in wood chemical components.
• Porodaedalea pini simultaneously degraded all main wood components of Picea jezoensis.
• The activities of cellulases were higher than those of ligninolytic enzymes.

The extracellular lignocellulolytic enzymes secreted by Porodaedalea pini were investigated for their ability to degrade the wood of Picea jezoensis over various time periods. In addition, changes in wood chemical component contents were also investigated. Enzyme production and wood degradation by P. pini significantly increased starting at 60 days of incubation. The total lignin, holocellulose, and α-cellulose contents, as well as pH, decreased during the degradation process, while hot water, 1% NaOH, and ethanol-toluene extract contents significantly increased. These results indicate that P. pini simultaneously degraded the lignin and polysaccharides of P. jezoensis wood. Additionally, P. pini continuously produced xylanase, β-glucosidase, and endoglucanase with higher activities than those of exoglucanase and cellobiose dehydrogenase. Manganese(II)-dependent peroxidase showed the highest ligninolytic activity, followed by lignin peroxidase and laccase. These results indicate that P. pini produces a variety of lignocellulolytic enzymes, and that the produced enzymes contribute to the degradation of P. jezoensis wood components.