%0 Journal Article %T BIODEGRADATION OF CELLULOSE BY WOOD DECAYING FUNGI %A JAGRATI PARIHAR %A C.K.TIWARI %A AKHILESH AYACHI %A R.K. VERMA %J Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation %D 2012 %I %X In the present study 212 specimens of wood decaying fungi were collected from Chhattisgarh, India, during survey in rainy season, 2009- 2010. These were identified, brought in pure culture by tissue culture method on Potato dextrose agar medium. Out of these, 33 species were screened and tested for cellulose degradation capability using filter paper cellulose. The ability of host fungus to utilize insoluble form of cellulose was measured. It was found that, all the 33 wood decaying fungi were able to decompose cellulose at varying degree. Biodegradation of cellulose and CAI were observed maximum with Navisporus floccosus whereas, Pyrofomes tricolor showing minimum biodegradation of cellulose and Flavodon flavus show minimum CAI. It is concluded that cellulose decomposition pattern was vary not only among the genera but also between the species of same genus. %K Biodegradation %K brown-rot %K Cellulose Adequacy index (CAI) %K Wood Decay Fungi (WDF) %K white-rot %U http://trisanita.org/jases/asespaper2012/ases28v7n3y2012.pdf