lignocellulosic biomass (Moreno et al.2015a; Castoldi et al. 2014 ; Kudanga and Le
Roes-Hill 2014 ; Singh et al. 2014 ; Ghorbani et al. 2015 ; Moreno et al. 2013 ). In the
same way, these biotechnological tools have been used as biological pre-treatment
before pulping process improving fiber individualization or lignin removal,
respectively (Bajpai et al. 2001 ). Moreover, laccases, mainly being used as a
laccase-mediator system (LMS) to catalyze the development of efficient TCF
biobleaching (Singh et al. 2015 ; Fillat and Roncero2009a, 2010 ). Lignin degra-
dation by fungi has been previously evaluated significant and necessary for
long-term storage for the growth of desired saprophytic fungi which complicates
industrial applications. Therefore, novel candidates of potential fungi become
essential tofind out to solve or ameliorate the hurdle of industrial implementation.
Various studies on wood-attacking fungi were based on advanced degradation
stages. However, few fungal endophytes also served as potential wood-
decomposers (Fukusawa et al. 2009 ). In nature, fungal endophytes are found liv-
ing in symbiosis in asymptomatic photosynthetic tissues of all major lineages of
land plants. These fungi represent an enormous fungal diversity and its geo-
graphical distribution, host range and ecological roles are yet unknown (Arnold
et al. 2002 ; Martín et al. 2013 ). Some endophytic fungi remain in a dormant stage
until the plant or its organs become dead and then trigger to grow to become
primary colonizers (Promputtha et al.2010a). Thus, these fungi advantageously
compete on other saprophytes in early stages of decomposition (Fukusawa et al.
2009 ). A number of studies on fungal succession have been carried out to suggest
that some of the early colonizers are fungal endophytes (Promputtha et al.2010b),
those bears complex enzymatic systems (Wang and Dai 2011 ; Sunitha et al. 2013 ),
become able to degrade tissues of their host plant. On the other hand, other fungi
such as vesicular and arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) interact with living plant roots
modifying lignin biosynthesis in the plant and then altering their resistance to pest
and pathogens (Bennett et al. 2014 ). Other studies focused on the environmental
effect on the nonstatic interaction amid plant and endophyte (Faeth and Fagan 2002 ;
Lehtonen et al. 2005 ). However, temporal and spatial distribution of endophytes in
the bulky and ancient forest is still poorly understood.
The study of the wood-associated fungi in lignin degradation, as well as their
oxidative enzymes, is necessary, as they could advance current bioconversion
processes.
12.2 Lignin-Degrading Enzymes
In nature, basidiomycetes cause white-rot with a wide array of enzymes that are
effective for lignin degradation (Wong 2009 ). Peroxidases and laccases are the
major groups of ligninolytic enzymes (Fig.12.1) (Alcalde 2015 ). Ligninolytic
peroxidases are hemeperoxidases with high redox potential that can oxidize phe-
nolic and nonphenolic units of lignin using hydrogen peroxide mediated hydrolysis
as a co-substrate. Lignin peroxidases can directly oxidize the substrates, whereas
12 Potential of Lignin-Degrading Endophytic Fungi... 263