Lignocellulosic materials consist of lignin walls and cellulose fibrils that are bounded into lignin matrix preventing
enzymatic activities to occur efficiently. Natural microorganisms such as fungi have the ability to break down this matrix
and make the lignocellulosic components more accessible to enzymes. We report on the ability of four white rot fungi:
Oxyporus latemarginatus, Rigidoporus vinctus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Coriolus versicolor, to degrade kenaf
biomass. Fungi were inoculated separately onto kenaf medium and weight loss was determined after four weeks of
incubation period. We observed O. latemarginatus as the fastest-growing fungus when compared with the rest and thus
recorded the highest in biomass weight loss (3-fold higher). Filtrates from the fermentation were assayed for ligninase
activity. All species produced high levels of lignin peroxidase (LiP), about the same amount of laccase except for P.
chrysosporium and very low levels of manganase peroxidase (MnP). When analyzing for cellulase activities, all four
species produced similar amounts of endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase. Because of its consistently fast
growth and high enzymatic activities, O. latemarginatus stands as a superior candidate in biological pretreatment of
lignocellulosic biomass.