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Decomposer Organisms

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Plant Litter

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Abstract

Litter is mainly degraded by microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) and in boreal coniferous systems this is emphasized. The degradation of lignin is carried out by aerobic organisms (mainly white-rot but also soft-rot and brown-rot) whereas the degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses proceeds under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The main enzymatic processes are described as well as factors that influence the formation and production of enzymes in microorganisms. The characteristics of white-rot, brown-rot and soft-rot are reviewed. The repression caused by N on formation and activity of the lignin-degrading enzyme system is discussed as is the role of Mn for the formation of the widespread enzyme manganese (Mn) peroxidase. The potential importance of mycorrhizal fungi in humus degradation is introduced and the need for a better understanding of microbial ecology combined with new molecular biology approaches relative to decomposition processes is emphasized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Prof. Björn Berg

  2. Department of Biology, University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH, USA

    Dr. Charles McClaugherty

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  1. Prof. Björn Berg
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  2. Dr. Charles McClaugherty
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Correspondence to Björn Berg .

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Berg, B., McClaugherty, C. (2020). Decomposer Organisms. In: Plant Litter. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59631-6_3

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