Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1 growing in association with ground wheat straw. Image by Nancy Nichols.

Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1 offers an untapped source of enzymes for conversion of fibrous plant biomass to fuels and chemicals. The fungal strain was isolated from a wheat straw-degrading microbial consortium, in which it is important for degradation of plant biomass and conversion of toxic compounds arising from heat- and/or chemical pretreatment. Strain 2T2.1 grows in aerobic and mesophilic conditions, and is a key member of a soil-derived microbial consortium along with Sphingobacterium and Klebsiella bacterial species. Other species of Coniochaeta (an ascomycete; anamorph: Lecythophora) have been isolated from soil, plants, and decomposing wood. Some species grow as saprotrophs and can act as facultative plant pathogens. Discovery of new enzymes is needed to improve saccharification of plant polymers and enable efficient production of biofuels and commodity chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. The genome sequence and transcriptomic data from Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1 open a door for discovery of novel enzymes such as cellulases, endo-xylanases, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, and lignin-degrading enzymes.