A snapshot of microbial diversity and function in an undisturbed sugarcane bagasse pile.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sugarcane bagasse is a major source of lignocellulosic biomass, yet its economic potential is not fully realised. To add value to bagasse, processing is needed to gain access to the embodied recalcitrant biomaterials. When bagasse is stored in piles in the open for long periods it is colonised by microbes originating from the sugarcane, the soil nearby or spores in the environment. For these microorganisms to proliferate they must digest the bagasse to access carbon for growth. The microbial community in bagasse piles is thus a potential resource for the discovery of useful and novel microbes and industrial enzymes. We used culturing and metabarcoding to understand the diversity of microorganisms found in a uniquely undisturbed bagasse storage pile and screened the cultu

SUBMITTER: Gebbie L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7049217 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature