Adhesion of Bacteroides succinogenes in pure culture and in the presence of Ruminococcus flavefaciens to cell walls in leaves of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

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Abstract
B. succinogenes and R. flavefaciens are 2 of the most important cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen. Adhesion of B. succinogenes in pure culture and in mixed culture with R. flavefaciens to the various types of cell wall in sections of perennial ryegrass (L. perenne L. cultivar S24) leaves was examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. B. succinogenes adhered to the cut edges of most plant cell walls except those of the meta- and protoxylem. It adhered in much smaller numbers to the uncut surfaces of mesophyll, epidermal and phloem cell walls. In mixed culture, both species adhered in significant numbers to the cut edges of most types of plant cell wall, but R. flavefaciens predominated on the epidermis, phloem and sclerenchyma cell walls. B. succinogenes predominated on the cut edges and on the uncut surfaces of the mesophyll cell walls and its ability to adhere to uncut surfaces of other cell walls was not affected by the presence of the Ruminococcus. Both organisms rapidly digested the epidermal, mesophyll and phloem cell walls. Zones of digestion were observed around bacteria of both species when attached to the lignified cell walls of the sclerenchyma but not when attached to the lignified xylem vessels.