Patrick, Ferdinandi; Mtui, Godliving; Mligo, Anthony M.; Kivaisi, Amelia K.
Description:
A white-rot fungus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, was isolated from coastal Tanzania and screened for crude
lignolytic enzymes production using rhemazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) dye, 2,2-azino-bis (3-
ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and guaiacol in a semi-solid medium. Laccase (Lac) and
manganese peroxidase (MnP) were detected by α-napthol and pyrogallol solutions, respectively, on the
guaiacol supplemented semi-solid media. The effect of temperature, pH, carbon, nitrogen, Cu2+, 2,5-
xylidine, ferulic acid, Mn2+ and immobilization using Luffa cylindrica sponges in submerged culture
fermentations were investigated for maximum enzymes production. After 7 days of incubation, 83 to
100% oxidation of RBBR, ABTS and guaiacol was observed. With optimized culture conditions, the
fungal filtrate had maximum Lac and MnP activities of 80 and 0.94 U/ml, respectively compared to 0.62
and 0.0003 U/ml obtained with non-optimized ones; amounting to 129 and 3133 times increase in Lac
and MnP activities, respectively. The improved crude enzymes activities, RBBR decolourization, ABTS
and guaiacol oxidation capabilities of P. sajor-caju show its potential as a source of industrial enzymes
for biotechnological applications.