Abstract:[Background] Pruned branches of citrus are rich and renewable biomass resources, in which the stable and complex lignocellulose structure limits the utilization of the resources. [Objective] To screening and identify efficient lignin-degrading bacteria from citrus waste compost and optimize the lignin-degrading conditions of strains, thus providing strain resources for the utilization of citrus waste. [Methods] We isolated lignin-degrading strains from citrus waste compost by the aniline blue method and compared the laccase, manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase activities between different strains. Then, we optimized the lignin degradation conditions of the target strain (LDB1) by single factor tests, orthogonal test, and response surface methodology. Finally, we verified the degradation effect of LDB1 on the lignin derived from three plant species by laboratory experiments. [Results] We isolated eight lignin-degrading bacterial strains from the citrus waste compost. Among them, strain LDB1 had the strongest enzyme activity and was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (GenBank No. OR244332). The lignin degradation by LDB1 was affected by pH, inoculum amount, and C/N ratio. The fermentation with LDB1 at pH 6.9, inoculum amount of 2.9%, and C/N ratio of 29.0 achieved the lignin degradation rate of (14.9±0.9)% after 4 days, which increased by 2.0% compared with the orthogonal test result. After 30 days, the lignin degradation rates of LDB1 for citrus branches, maize straw, and rice straw were 12.0%, 36.8%, and 30.6%, respectively. [Conclusion] B. amyloliquefaciens LDB1 can simultaneously secrete three lignin-degrading enzymes to destroy the lignocellulose structure, demonstrating strong lignocellulose-degrading ability.