Work

Bamboo lignocellulose degradation networks: Functional redundancy and specialization in endophytic and rhizospheric mycobiota

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The slow degradation of residual stumps after harvesting Moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis ) severely restricts sustainable forest management and carbon sequestration enhancement. In this study, Moso bamboo stumps (MB) and rhizosphere soils of Moso bamboo stumps (BS) at different grades were used as materials. By integrating compositional analysis with high-throughput sequencing, we elucidated the succession, functional differentiation, and synergistic mechanisms of fungal communities during lignocellulose degradation. The results showed that MB decomposition were characterized by preferential hemicellulose degradation, lagging cellulose degradation, with lignin content increasing from 23.45% to 38.97%, forming a recalcitrant barrier, while both total sugar and reducing sugar contents decreased; simultaneously, dry density decreased and ash content increased. Fungal communities in both habitats were dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with higher fungal diversity in BS, which served as a core microbial source pool. Shared genera between the two habitats (e.g., Trichoderma , Penicillium ) constituted the core degrading community, reflecting functional redundancy; unique genera in MB (e.g., Scytinostroma ) specifically participated in lignocellulose degradation, indicating functional specificity, whereas unique genera in BS (e.g., Apiotrichum ) rapidly responded to initial decay products, revealing cross habitat synergy. FungalTraits functional annotation indicated that wood saprotrophs dominated in situ degradation in MB, whereas soil saprotrophs dominated in BS, facilitating secondary transformation of decay products and nutrient cycling. This study elucidates the cross habitat synergistic fungal degradation mechanism, providing microbial resources and a theoretical basis for stump decomposition promotion and efficient bamboo forest management.

Source: Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.123408