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Effects of glycerol on the growth, adhesion, and cellulolytic activity of rumen cellulolytic bacteria and anaerobic fungi

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Abstract

The effect of glycerol on the growth, adhesion, and cellulolytic activity of two rumen cellulolytic bacterial species,Ruminococcus flavefaciens andFibrobacter succinogenes subsp.succinogenes, and of an anaerobic fungal species,Neocallimastix frontalis, was studied. At low concentrations (0.1–1%), glycerol had no effect on the growth, adhesion, and cellulolytic activity of the two bacterial species. However, at a concentration of 5%, it greatly inhibited their growth and cellulolytic activity. Glycerol did not affect the adhesion of bacteria to cellulose. The growth and cellulolytic activity ofN. frontalis were inhibited by glycerol, increasingly so at higher concentrations. At a concentration of 5%, glycerol totally inhibited the cellulolytic activity of the fungus. Thus, glycerol can be added to animal feed at low concentrations.

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Roger, V., Fonty, G., Andre, C. et al. Effects of glycerol on the growth, adhesion, and cellulolytic activity of rumen cellulolytic bacteria and anaerobic fungi. Current Microbiology 25, 197–201 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570719

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