Functional genes are the key factors driving the Fenton-like reactions to promote the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass during composting

This paper researched the effect of functional genes in the Fenton-like reactions in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass during composting. Four treatment groups were set up: CK (control), Fe (addition of Fe(II)), Z1 (inoculation of Aspergillus fumigatus), Fe+Z1 (inoculation of A. fumigatus and addition of Fe(II)). The addition of Fe(II) and inoculation of A. fumigatus was treated as a Fenton-like reaction group. Results showed that the organic matter degradation ratio of Fenton-like reactions increased by 21.18%. In addition, Fenton-like reactions increased the numbers of potential host activities of lignocellulose-degrading genes (except for the degradation of mannan) and shikimic acid pathway-related genes, and decreased potential host activities of glycolysis metabolism-related genes. Furthermore, Fenton-like reactions increased number of feature fungal species, and the diffusion of fungal species became stronger. Additionally, Fenton-like reactions enhanced the correlation between functional genes, potential hosts, and humic substance. Bacterial hosts of functional genes were affected by cellulose, hemicellulose, amino acid, reducing sugar, lignin, organic matter and C/N, while fungal hosts of functional genes were affected by pH and total nitrogen. This study confirmed that functional genes were key factors in promoting the hydrolysis of lignocellulose based on Fenton-like reactions, which provided a theoretical guidance for the degradation of agricultural wastes.