The promoting effects of manganese on biological pretreatment with Irpex lacteus and enzymatic hydrolysis of corn stover

► Mn greatly improved the effects of fungal pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. ► Mn supplement could shorten the fungal pretreatment time. ► Mn greatly stimulated the delignification of Irpex lacteus. ► The yields of glucose and ethanol were higher than conventional fungal pretreatment. ► It's reported for the first time with the high efficiency of fungal pretreatment.