Vol. 7, Issue 10 (2018)

Author(s):
Tanvi and Sneh Goyal

Abstract:
This study investigates the potential of lignocellulolytic fungi to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes under varying conditions of carbon and nitrogen sources. The four fungal isolates tested, showed significant production of lignocellulolytic enzymes under submerged conditions. Among two carbon sources used for cellulase production, carboxymethyl cellulose powder at 200 mg L^-1 concentration was giving better results with isolate HST16 giving maximum FP ase and CM Case activity of 0.026 IU ml^-1 and 0.006 IU ml^-1 respectively. For ligninolytic activity, alkali lignin was used as carbon source and maximum enzyme activity was observed at 200 mg L^-1 concentration with 9 IU ml^-1 lac, 48.5 IU ml^-1 LiP and 1.5 IU ml^-1 Mn P activity by the fungal isolate HST16. Maximum lignocellulolytic enzyme activity occurred when ammonium sulfate was used as a nitrogen source. HST16 was giving maximum FPase (0.013 IU ml^-1), CM Case (0.013 IU ml^-1), lac (12 IU ml^-1), Lip (45.60 IU ml^-1) and Mn P activity (4 IU ml^-1). These results suggested that the carbon and nitrogen sources could be optimized for the growth and activity of lignocellulolytic fungi and these fungi could be exploited for compost preparation.