Rumen fungi: morphological types from Georgia cattle and the attack on forage cell walls

Fungal colonies developing in anaerobic media from zoospores in rumen fluid from cows eating Cynodon dactylon or Medicago sativa included types showing monocentric and polycentric growth. High energy supplements added to diets of Sorghum bicolor silage increased fungal numbers in the rumen, but increases were also affected by the history and predisposition of the animal. Mixed fungal types in rumen fluid and pure cultures of isolates showing monocentric and polycentric growth degraded and weakened lignocellulosic tissues and penetrated the cuticle of C. dactylon leaf blades. By weakening or degrading recalcitrant structures in forages, rumen fungi may alter physical parameters of plants that influence utilization of fibre by ruminants.