| Changes in the ultrastructure of the hemp stem and fibres | (i) Stem with the intact layered structure
(ii) Uncollapsed, intact cells with native cell geometry
(iii) Cytoplasm-filled living cells
(iv) Clear surface with undamaged cuticle and trichomes
(v) Abundant chloroplasts in the upper epidermis | (i) Overall intact structure
(ii) Fungal presence on the surface and inside the stems
(iii) Cellular anatomy is less stable with deformed epidermis and parenchyma | (i) Cuticle severely decayed
(ii) Changes to the cellular anatomy and major destruction of the living cells
(iii) Fibre bundles separated from the epidermis and each other
(iv) Thick-walled cells seldom colonized-parenchyma totally degraded, but chlorenchyma has less damage
(v) Bast fibres with infrequent mild attack
(vi) Fibre morphology affected the characteristics of colonisation and the decay morphology | (i) Hemp structure severely affected and disintegrated
(ii) Extensively colonized epidermis and cambium with dominant bacteria
(iii) Complete destruction of the parenchyma cells and loss of structural integrity in the bast regions
(iv) Hyphae inside the lumina of all the cell types, including the fibres
(v) Intensified BFIs inside the stem
(vi) Major loss to the anatomy and ultrastructure
(vii) Thick-walled bast fibres with decay characteristics
(viii) Effects on the fibre wall ultrastructure
(a) Loosening/degradation of the CML, which led to delamination and defibration
(b) Loosening and decay of the S3 layer
(c) Prominent effect on the S2 layer with delamination within the S2 transwall and intrawall fractures in S2
(d) Direct removal of S2 materials (e.g., S2 thinning, broken S2, and disintegration into nanosized cellulose fibrillar structures) |
| Microbial dynamics and activities | Fungi
(i) Rarely seen
Bacteria
(i) Not observed | Fungi
(i) Sparsely growing mycelia
(ii) Less diverse
(iii) Colonization outside the cortical layers, primarily in living cells
(iv) Dense colonisation close to the surface trichomes
(v) Dependence on readily available food
(vi) Less damage to the cell walls
Bacteria
(i) Less abundant | Fungi
(i) Extensive and abundant
(ii) Dense mycelia over the cuticle
(iii) Diverse population
(iv) A variety of abundant spores
(v) Intense activities and interactions
Bacteria
(i) Abundant
(ii) Diverse population
(iii) Colonies over the cuticle
(iv) Associated with hyphae and fungal spores
(v) More pronounced activities after 20 days
(vi) Highly degraded cuticle | Fungi
(i) Less abundant on the outside of the stem
(ii) Surface mycelia in nonliving state, but active hyphae inside the stem
(iii) Mycelia, an exclusive source of nutrients for the invading bacteria, reflected bacterial mycophagy (i.e., extracellular and endocellular biotrophic and extracellular necrotrophic activities)
Bacteria
(i) Highly abundant inside and outside the stems
(ii) Highly diverse and dominant role
(iii) Visible as dense overlay representing
(a) Biofilms
(b) Morphologically different colonies
(c) Randomly scattered cells
(iv) Showed strong BFIs
(v) Bacterial motility occurred over and inside the hemp stem using fungal highways
(vi) Showed enhanced cutinolytic and cellulolytic activities |
