K. SUDHARAMESHWARI AND G. PAVYA
Abstract
In this study, microbes were isolated from old coir pith and characterized lignin degraders and its lignolytic potential is evaluated by decolourization of dye, enzyme activity and biomass production. The bacterial strains were isolated, based on the p- Anisidine degrading capacity and intensity of browning and decolourization. Among these strains only seven isolates show positive results based on their lignolytic activity. Within seven isolates based on their morphology two isolates were identified as fungi. The decolourization of methylene blue has been used as an indicator of lignin peroxidase enzyme activity. Change in colour of the medium from blue to clear zone was observed for four isolates. The predominant methylene blue decolorizes were isolates 3,6,7,5. Among the isolate, isolate seven showed the highest degrading activity which were selected for further identification by partial sequence analysis of their 18S rRNA genes. The isolate seven is identified as Aspergillus flavus. The sequence is deposited in NCBI GenBank with the accession number MH161388.