Coriolus versicolor is an important wood-decay fungus.
It is classified as a simultaneous white-rotter because
it degrades and metabolizes lignin and carbohydrates
at approximately the same rate (Cowling
1961; Liese 1970). In most hardwoods Coriolus versicolor
decay is considerably faster than in softwoods
(Cowling 1961; this study, Fig. 1). The slower decay
of softwoods by some white-rot fungi has been attributed
to the higher lignin content of softwoods
(Takahashi 1976). However, hardwoods and
softwoods differ structurally in the chemistry of their
lignins (Adler 1977; Freudenberg 1968). Recent evidence
indicates that the chemical nature of the lignins
in softwood and hardwood may be more important
than their amount (Faix et al. 1985; Highley 1982).
Coriolus versicolor has been studied extensively with
respect to its biochemistry of degradation and microscopy
at the light microscopic level (Cowling 1961;
Greaves and Levy 1965; Wilcox 1968, 1970). Light
microscopy studies show that it degrades wood in a
manner typical of white-rotters, starting the attack
from the S3-layer and progressing through the middle
lamella. Little information is available at the ultrastructural
level (Cowling 1961; Wilcox 1970).