EFFECT OF EUBACTERIUM-LIMOSUM, A RUMINAL HYDROGENOTROPHIC BACTERIUM, ON THE DEGRADATION AND FERMENTATION OF CELLULOSE BY 3 SPECIES OF RUMEN ANAEROBIC FUNGI

The degradation and fermentation of cellulose filter paper were studied in axenic cultures of 3 species of rumen anaerobic fungi, Neocallimastix frontalis, Piromyces communis and Caecomyces communis, and in cocultures containing 1 of these fungal strains and Eubacterium limosum, a hydrogenotrophic rumen bacterial species. When E limosum was introduced into fungal cultures a slight decrease in fungal cellulolytic activity was observed. The end products of the fermentation of cellulose found in the cocultures were different from those found in the fungal monocultures. E limosum used formate and part of the hydrogen produced by the fungi and probably created a shift in the metabolism of the fungi resulting in a reduction of lactate and ethanol production.