FORMATION OF ENZYMES BY BIODEGRADATION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTES WITH WHITE-ROT FUNGI

Three different strains of white rot fungi, Phanerochaete chrysosporiu m NRRL 6359, P. chrysosporium NRRL 6361 and Coriolus versicolor NRRL 6 102, were tested for their ability to produce xylananse, glucanase and cellulase, and also for their ability to produce release-reducing sug ars and proteins in basal media. P. chrysosporium NRRL 6359 was the mo st active strain for enzyme production. This organism was tested for i ts ability to produce different enzymes and release-reducing sugars wi th agricultural wastes as substrates (xylan, treated sugar cane bagass e, sugar cane bagasse, wheat straw, corn cobs, rice husks, peanut shel ls and cellulose powder). Corn cobs, treated sugar cane bagasse and wh eat straw were the most suitable substrates for all products. The opti mum pH for cellulase production was found to be 5.5 with wheat straw a nd 6.5 with treated sugar cane bagasse. For glucanase production the o ptimum pH ranged between 6.5 and 7.5, whilst for xylanase production t he optimum pH ranged between 4.5 and 5.5 for all substrates over an in cubation period of 7 days. Further studies revealed that the organisms could produce enzymic activity in agricultural wastes at concentratio ns of 0.25-3.5% (w/v). 0.2% glucose, yeast or peptone were added to th e studied agricultural waste media to detect their repression and indu ction character. (C) 1997 Published by EIsevier Science Limited.