Isolation and identification of a cellulose degrading fungi

Abstract:

[Objective] The aim of this study was to screen efficient cellulose degrading strains and to investigate their cellulase-producing conditions. [Methods] The fungus were screened from sugarcane soil by using the Congo red dye test, then measured the degradation rate of filter paper and the enzyme activity for second-screening. [Results] The hydrolyzation zone, clearing zone ratios (clearing zone diameter/colony diameter), the degradation rate of filter paper and cellulose activity were taken as evaluating selection criteria. We isolated one fungi with cellulose degrading ability, of which SJ1 was identified as Penicillium oxalicum by morphological and molecular technology. The results showed that the filter paper activity (FPA), endoglucanase activity (CMCase activity), β-glucosidase activity and exoglucanase activity (CBH activity) of SJ1 were 25.15 U/mL, 740.42 U/mL, 58.03 U/mL and 2.442 U/mL, respectively. [Conclusion] Strain SJ1 was a cellulase-producing strain with broad development potential.