ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the isolation and characterization of microorganisms involved in wood degradation. A total of six bacterial and four fungal isolates were found to be responsible for the deterioration of used and unused wood samples. These microorganisms were isolated using the streak plate technique. The bacteria species isolated and identified using morphological and biochemical characterization included; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurues, Klebsiella species, Serratia species, Citrobacter species, and Bacillus species, while the fungi species are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumugatus, Mucor alternaria and Rhodotorula spp. Amongst the five (5) used wood samples, Ash wood (used) had the highest bacteria count at 7.6x1011while among the unused wood samples Beach wood (unused) was recorded to have the highest bacteria count at 7.3x1011 and Fibreboard (unused) having the least fungi count at 3.5 x1011. It was also observed that Escherichia coli is the most frequently occurring isolates with a high percentage occurrence of (20.0%) and (22.2%) respectively, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (16.0%) and (16.6%). The occurrence of Escherichia coli is usually associated with faecal matter and also affirmed poor hygiene in the area. Among the fungal isolates, Aspergillus niger (8.3 %), (16.6%) was the most predominant and frequently occurring isolates on both wood types. The extracellular enzymes activities for isolate revealed that Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp and Citrobacter species were found to exhibit the highest enzymes production. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in the bacterial mean count of the wood samples at P< 0.05, while no significant was recorded on fungal meant count of the wood samples.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page   i

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables ix

Abstract x

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.2 Aim and Objectives 1

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2

2.1 Wood and its Component 2

2.1.1 Cellulose 2

2.1.2 Hemicellulose 3

2.1.3 Lignin 3

2.2 TYPES OF WOOD 4

2.2.1 Beech Wood 4

2.2.2 Ash Wood 5

2.2.3 Fibreboard 5

2.2.4 Plywood 5

2.2.3 Veneer 5

2.3 CLASSIFICATION OF WOOD 6

2.3.1 Hardwoods 6

2.3.1.1 Maple 6

2.3.1.2 Mahogany 7

2.3.1.3 Cherry 7

2.3.1.4 Walnut 8

2.3.2 Softwoods 8

2.3.2.1 Pine 8

2.3.2.2 Ash 8

2.3.2.3 Birch 9

2.3.2.3 Cedar 9

2.3.2.4 Redwood 9

2.3.2.4 Hemlock 10

2.4 WHERE WOODS CAN BE FOUND IN NIGERIA 10

2.4.1 The Makoko-Oko Baba Wood Market 10

2.4.2       The Umuahia Modern Timber Market 11

2.5 Degradation of Wood by Fungi 11

2.5.1 White-rot Fungi 12

2.5.2 Brown-Rot Fungi 12

2.6 Microbial Colonization of Wood 13

2.7 Diversity of Bacterial Communities in Wood 14

2.7.1 Edaphic and Atmospheric Sources of Bacteria 15

2.7.2 Bacterial Endophytes 16

2.8 Bacterial Nitrogen Fixation in Wood 16

2.9 Bacterial Wood Decomposition 18

2.10 Isolation and Characterization of Microorganisms Involved in 

Degradation of Wood Waste 18

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD 21

3.1 Study Area 21

3.2 Collection of Samples 21

3.3 Sterilization of Materials 21

3.4 Preparation of Culture Media 22

3.5 Isolation of Hydrolytic Microorganisms from Wood Chips 22

3.6 Screening of Hydrolytic Enzyme-Producing Microorganisms from Wood Chips 22

3.7 Identification of the Isolates 23

3.8 Gram Staining 23

3.9 Biochemical Test 24

3.9.1 Catalase Test 24

3.9.2 Indole Test 24

3.9.3 Citrate Utilization Test 24

3.9.4 Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) Production Test 24

3.9.5 Starch Hydrolysis 25

3.9.6 Motility, Indole, Urease (MIU) 25

3.9.7 Coagulase Test 26

3.9.8 Oxidase Test 26

3.10 Identification of Fungal Isolates 26

3.10.1 Wet Preparation 26

3.10.2 Colonial Morphology 26

3.11 Qualitative Screening for Extracellular Enzyme Producing Isolate by Plate Assay 26

3.11.1 Purification of Isolate 26

 3.11.2 Production of Xylanase Enzyme 28

3.11.3 Production of Amylases Enzyme 28

3.11.4 Production of Cellulases Enzyme 28

3.12 Statistical Analysis 28

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS 29

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 42

5.1 Discussion 42

5.2 Conclusion 44

5.3 Recommendation 45

References 

Appendix I

Appendix II