Screening For Lignocellulolytic Enzymes-producing White Rot Fungi

Introduction: The three major parts of lignocellulose are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin which can be broken down by cellulase, xylanase and laccase, respectively, thereby making the reducing sugar in lignocellulose available for industrial processes.

Aims: This work aimed to screen for white-rot fungi with the potential of producing cellulase, xylanase and laccase which are vital in breaking lignocellulosic substrates.

Methodology: Some white rot fungi were screened for their abilities to produce cellulase, xylanase and laccase on potato dextrose agar supplemented separately with 1% carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC), 1% of xylan, and 0.1% of 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), respectively and enzymes relative activity were determined.

Results: The highest average relative activity of cellulase (1.07 ± 0.073) was recorded with Lentinus squarrosulus while the same average relative xylanase activity (1.13) was produced by both Lentinus squarrosulus and Pleurotus ostreatus. Pleurotus tuber-regium did not produce cellulase and xylanase. The highest average relative laccase activity (1.43 ± 0.286) was produced by Pleurotus tuber-regium followed by Pleurotus ostreatus (1.24 ± 0.162) and the least was by Lentinus squarrosulus (1.12 ± 0.134).

Conclusion: Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus squarrosulus produced cellulase, xylanase and laccase which are important in breaking down lignocellulose. Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus squarrosulus could be employed to break down lignocellulose.