The Effect of Cellulolytic Rumen Bacteria or Their Cell-Free Extracts on the Germination of Euonymus americanus L.

<p>In past attempts, the experimental germination of the seeds of<em> Euonymus americanus </em>L. in vitro has had little success. However, treatment of seeds with rumen fluid containing viable microflora has been successful in stimulating germination. In the presence of the cellulolytic rumen bacterium. <em>Clostridium cellobioparum </em>ATCC 15832, seeds of <em>E. americanus</em> were stimulated to germinate. Subsequent studies were designed to determine whether the bacterium synthesized a cellulolytic enzyme responsible for initiating germination. The cell-free endocellulase from <em>C. cellobioparum</em> was demonstrated to induce germination of the seeds. To support the hypothesis that endocellulase from <em>C. cellobioparum</em> was responsible for triggering germination, a 1, 4- β – endo-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4) from <em>Pennicillium funiculosum</em> was used to treat the seeds. Also, Ruminococcus flavefaciens strain FD-1 was found to initiate germination of E. americanus seeds. Thus, cellulose activity is indicated in the degradation of the testa of the seed allowing imbibition and germination.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Biology

Year

1987

Author dc:creator

• Howard, Gary Thomas

Contributors dc:contributor

• Larry Elliott, Joe Winstead & Martin Houston

• Biology
• Life Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1431

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-2426