@inproceedings{01H4QS519X7SJ8RKG6MA2ERZ5F,
  abstract     = {{Dew retting of hemp stems lying on the field is a spontaneous microbiological process in which pectin and hemicellulose are degraded in order to release the cellulose bast fibers from its stem. The process is weather dependent and strongly affects the desired fiber quality needed for textile applications. Adding specific bacteria or consortia on the stems during retting might achieve a more controlled process. We set out to isolate, characterize and identify the ideal retting micro-organism, which will degrade hemicellulose and pectin without degrading cellulose, of which the hemp fiber is made. 
In 2021 samples of both hemp stems and underlying soil were taken from field trials in Bottelare, Belgium. Bacteria were isolated using the dilution to extinction method and identified through 16s rRNA gene sequencing. After identification, the bacteria were screened for their ability to degrade pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose. In total 57 bacteria were successfully isolated and identified. These bacteria belonged to 4 main phyla; 29% Actinobacteria, 27% Bacteroidota, 12% Firmicutes and 32% Proteobacteria. After screening for degradation of the plant biopolymers, six isolates with the right characteristics were found, namely the potential of degrading hemicellulose and pectin without degrading cellulose, belonging to the genera Clavibacter, Microbacterium, Rhodococcus, Flavobacterium, Pedobacter and Luteimonas sp. These isolates are being screened further through in-vitro mini-rettingexperiments to assess the extent to which they are able to release the fibres without damaging them.}},
  author       = {{Pappaert, Hanne and Troch, Veronique and De Gelder, Leen}},
  booktitle    = {{10th FEMS Congress of European Microbiologists (FEMS 2023), Abstracts}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{Hamburg, Germany}},
  title        = {{The quest for the ideal dew retting promoting micro-organism}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}