Isolation, screening and selection of xylanase producing thermophilic fungi from Raipur

Abstract

In the present study, isolation, screening and selection of xylanase producing thermophilic fungi from soil of Raipur was studied. A total of 55 fungal isolates were isolated and screened  for  xylanase  activity  by  standard  plate assay method and activity of xylanase was determined by estimating the amount of released  reducing  sugar  xylose  in  culture  filtrates. Based on screening methods, 18 isolates with higher xylanase activity were selected for studying effect of temperature i.e.  25,  35,  45,  50,  55,  60,  65^oC on their mycelial biomass production and  for studying percent  coagulation  of protein  at 50^oC  at  different  intervals  of  time. Five isolates namely Chrysosporium tropicum NFCCI 2531, Malbranchea  cinnamomea MTCC  11894,  Aspergillus  fumigatus NFCCI  2532, Aspergillus  terrus NFCCI  2533  and  Emericella  nidulans NFCCI2538  showed maximum biomass production  at 45^oC (0.19 to 0.32g/100ml/10days)  and minimum protein coagulation at 50^oC (14% to 25%).

Keywords: Thermophilic fungi, screening, xylanase, temperature biomass, protein coagulation, reducing sugar, xylose.