Influence of type and amount of lignin on decay by Coriolus versicolor

Samples of a hardwood containing primarily coniferous (guaiacyl) lignin and hardwoods and softwoods with normal amounts of guaiacyl and syringyl lignin were degraded by the white-rot fungus Coriolusversicolor (L. ex Fr.) to assess the influence of type and amount of lignin on rate of decay. Lignin and carbohydrate losses were compared for the woods at various degrees of weight loss. The hardwood with coniferous lignin was degraded in a manner similar to the softwoods, indicating that the type of lignin is more a factor in the slower rate of C. versicolor decay of softwoods than is the amount of lignin, or the anatomical structure itself.