Screening of Pectobacterium aroidearum WNH with degumming effect on hemp

Abstract:

[Background] Compared with chemical degumming, biological degumming of hemp is environmental-friendly. [Objective] To obtain an efficient pectinase-producing strain for the biological degumming of hemp. [Methods] The strains were screened by plate dilution method in the medium with pectin as the sole carbon source, and the target strain was identified by physiological and biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequence alignment. The enzyme production conditions were optimized by single factor experiment, and the biological degumming effect of hemp was verified under the optimal conditions. [Results] A highly active pectinase-producing strain, Pectobacterium aroidearum WNH, was screened out. After culture for 16 h at 27 °C, the rotation speed of 160 r/min, inoculum volume of 10%, and initial pH 7, the crude enzyme solution of P. aroidearum WNH showed the pectinase activity of 155.03 U/mL. Under the above conditions, the second degumming of hemp bast was carried out, and the degumming rate reached 27.18%, which was 6.93% higher than that of the control group. [Conclusion] P. aroidearum WNH has the potential for the biological degumming of hemp.