Gelatinization and decrystallization of cellulose by newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrobotrys</Emphasis> sp. CX1 to facilitate cellulose degradability

A nematicidal fungus strain was isolated and identified as a novel member of the genus Arthrobotrys based on the morphologic and phylogenetic analysis and designed as CX1. Strain CX1 could make the filter paper translucent, resulting in an increasing hydrature index by 73.7 % and a reducing crystalline index by 32 % in comparison with the untreated filter paper. Scanning electron microscopy showed swollen microfibrils in the presence of water, and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy indicated the change in absorbance and/or wavenumber for hydrogen bonds. The cellulose degradability was increased by 3.5 times when the filter paper was treated with Arthrobotrys sp. CX1 but no cellulase activities could be detected in the culture supernatant of strain CX1. The isolate CX1 could gelatinize the filter paper cellulose causing decrystallization with high water imbibition. It is significant to apply it to the initial cellulose deconstruction to facilitate the cellulose saccharification.