A common tree-rotting fungus is the first to biodegrade an otherwise impervious resin found in plywood and fiberboard.
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White-rot fungi strains leave behind wood’s white cellulose as they break down lignin, the natural polymer that binds cellulose fibers together. The fungal enzymes that degrade lignin, called ligninases, have previously shown promise in chewing up environmental pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and DDT.