Lignocellulose modifications by brown rot fungi and their effects, as pretreatments, on cellulolysis

► Biomass saccharification yields were improved threefold by brown rot pretreatment. ► Hemicellulose removal and specific lignin modifications were predictive of yields. ► Dynamics in non-conifer substrates differed from spruce, lending mechanistic insight. ► Full sugars accounting demonstrated potential for mass balance and cost assessment.