K. SRAVANTHI, G. JAHNAVI, VENKATESWAR RAO LINGA AND SANDEEPTA BURGULA
Abstract
The capacity of fungi to release extracellular enzymes into their surroundings is well known. Hydrolytic enzymes called xylanases are able to break down Xylan. This study aimed to screen xylanolytic fungi from forest soil and tree bark samples. Using Congo red indicator, 11 fungal isolates out of 45 were chosen for quantitative screening after showing a minimum of 5mm zone of hydrolysis. Quantitative screening revealed that two isolates, ASV10 and TSV9, produced the highest amounts of xylanolytic enzymes that can be further improved by statistical approach and can be used for the release of hemicellulose from lignocellulosic substrates. TSV9 generated 116 U/ml xylanase and 37 U/ml xylosidase, while ASV 10 produced 127 U/ml xylanase and 49 U/ml xylosidase. Molecular identification was done for the two selected fungal isolates by matching the 18 S rRNA sequence with NCBI database and TSV9 showed 99% similarity with Trichoderma asperellum and ASV10 showed 99% similarity with Aspergillus aculeatus.