Interactions between Fibrobacter succinogenes, Prevotella ruminicola, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens in the digestion of cellulose from forages.

The synergistic and inhibitory interactions observed between Fibrobacter succinogenes A3c, Prevotella ruminicola H2b, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens B34b in the digestion of forage cellulose were studied in detail. Orchardgrass and alfalfa hays, both at two maturity stages, were used as substrates. Sequential inoculation procedures were developed whereby a second inoculation was made after the initial fermentation was killed. Total cellulose digestion from sequential addition of the organisms was then compared to values obtained in simultaneous co-culture. When the noncellulolytic P. ruminicola was co-cultured with either of the two cellulolytic species (F. succinogenes or R. flavefaciens) forage cellulose digestion numerically increased over that of the cellulolytic species alone. In contrast, decreases from co-culture values were noted with sequential addition of the organisms. When F. succinogenes and R. flavefaciens were co-cultured, cellulose digestion was reduced compared to F. succinogenes alone. However, no such reduction was observed when the organisms were added sequentially. Further experiments indicated that this inhibitory activity is only produced when the organisms are co-cultured and is stable to autoclaving at 121 degrees C for 20 min. Inhibition of this type could be the result of bacterocin production by one of the organisms; however, most bacterocins are destroyed by autoclaving.