Lignocellulose degradation pattern and structural change of the sawdust substrate and enzyme secretion by Lentinula edodes during its production

The goal of this study was to examine the ability of white-rot fungus Lentinula edodes to degrade sawdust substrate by producing extracellular lignocellulolytic enzymes during its production. The highest activities of laccase (4.32 U mg −1 protein), filter paper cellulase (7.42 U mg −1 protein), and xylanase (4.58 U mg −1 protein) in sawdust substrate were observed at T5 (end-browning stage), while lignin peroxidase, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, and β-glucosidase reached their maximal activities of 19.52 U mg −1 protein, 7.56 U mg −1 protein, and 83.24 U mg −1 protein at T4 (end-spawn running stage), T3 (mid-spawn running stage), and T2 (mycelial colonization stage), respectively. The total loss of hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin was 79.87%, 73.38% and 86.05%, respectively, during the lifecycle of L. edodes . These findings were supported by results that were obtained by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The surface structure, crystallinity, and chemical groups of the lignocellulose in sawdust were significantly affected by the growth of L. edodes . The information presented in this paper offers new insights to understand the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass by L. edodes . This could provide a theoretical basis for improving L. edodes cultivation practices.