PG and Research Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College (Autonomous), Mylapore, Chennai, India
*Corresponding author: kumareshrkm@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 7 May, 2018.
Xylanase was used in paper industries as an alternate for toxic chemicals in bleaching and pulping processes. This potential has markedly increased the need for research on xylanase production. Hence this study was aimed at isolation of xylanase producing bacteria. The soil samples were collected from different regions in the reserve forests of Western Ghats of Nilgiri district in Tamil Nadu, India. Totally 154 bacterial strains were isolated from the soil samples. All the strains were screened for xylanolytic activity by xylan agar plate assay method. Based on the size of formation of the clear zone, six potential bacterial strains were selected for the further studies and identified by 16S rRNA sequence. Solid state fermentation (SsF) and submerged fermentation(s SmF) were done to identify strains that could produce maximum xylanase. Bacillus was found to be the dominating xylanase producer among the isolated strains. Bacillus subtilis showed maximum xylanase production of 15.55 IU/ml and 2.62 IU/ml in solid state and submerged fermentations, respectively.
Enzyme productivity in solid-state fermentation (SSF) is much higher than that of submerged fermentation.
Wheat bran is the most suitable substrate for xylanase production than rice bran and sugarcane bagasse.
Forest soil, Western Ghats, Bacillus sp, Solid-state fermentation, Submerged fermentation, Xylanase production
