This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Akin, D. E. Articles by Amos, H. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Akin, D. E. Articles by Amos, H. E. Agricola Articles by Akin, D. E. Articles by Amos, H. E.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1979 February; 37(2): 332-338

Mode of Attack on Orchardgrass Leaf Blades by Rumen Protozoa

Field Crops Laboratory, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia 30604

ABSTRACT

Leaf blade sections of orchardgrass were incubated with rumen fluid and examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy for the mode of attack on tissues by rumen protozoa. Rumen protozoa resembling Epidinium ecaudatum from caudatum degraded forage tissue in diluted, whole rumen fluid suspensions of microbes containing 1.6 mg of streptomycin per ml, which inhibited bacterial fiber-digesting activity. Cell walls of mesophyll, parenchyma bundle sheath, and epidermis became swollen and frayed to reveal a microfibrillar network and loss of electron density, indicating partial degradation. Then the protozoa ingested whole cells and fragments of cell walls with the aid of their cilia. Plant cells with partially degraded walls as well as chloroplasts without walls were present within the protozoa. These entodiniomorphs digested orchardgrass leaves by partially degrading the plant cell walls apparently by extracellular enzymes and then ingestion of the plant cells and cell wall fragments.