Studies on Cellulolytic Micro-Organisms: Part I: Microflora Associated With the Degradation of Cotton in Storage in Bombay

• Published in: Textile research journal 1968-12, Vol.38 (12), p.1189-1197
• Main Authors: Betrabet, S.M., Dasani, Usha P., Bhatt, Indira G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bombay; Cellulose; Chaetomium; Cotton; Degradation; Fabrics; Fungi; Memnoniella; Microorganisms; Myrothecium; Myxobacteria; Nocardia; Streptomyces; Trichoderma
• ISSN: 0040-5175; 1746-7748
• DOI: 10.1177/004051756803801205

Microbial degradation of cotton indigenous to the Bombay region of India was investi gated, with particular emphasis on cellulolytic nonfungal micro-organisms. About 76 bacteria, 49 actinomycetes, and 38 fungi were isolated by the enrichment culture technique from a arge number of cotton and fabric samples suspected of micro biological damage. Well known cellulolytic fungi belonging to genera Myrothecium, Chaetomium, Trichoderma, Memnoniella, etc and myxobacteria were conspicuously absent, whereas Streptomyces sp., which were encountered in fairly large numbers, seem to have an important role in the degradation of cotton along with Aspergilli. Bacteria, though incriminated in a large number, were mostly feeble in cellulolytic activity with the exception of isolates like Cellvibrio and Nocardia. Of particular interest was the large number of highly cellulolytie Streptomyces. This group has been isolated in a large number for the first time from cotton and fabric, though they have been known as cellulose digesters for a long time. Fungi, too, as expected, were highly cellulolytic. Aspergilli were most dominant. Penicillia and certain other fungi, even though not highly cellulolytic, were found in large numbers and were responsible for bad appearance, musty odor, and stains on cotton and fabric. The ecological pattern emerging from this study shows that cellulolysis in nature is a synergetic process, where fungi and streptomyces play a major role in bringing about degradation of cellulose, while bacteria, with few exceptions, seem to help mainly in the further decomposition of degraded cellulose. Bacteria, perhaps, may be devastating under very high humidity, bordering on wet conditions. Nutritional requirements of 15 cellulolytic isolates, mostly streptomyces, were also studied.