Enumeration and Characterization of Rumen Anaerobic Fungi in Crossbred Cattle

Anaerobic fungi are essential member of rumen ecosystem, whose population varies with the diet as well as time after feeding. The fungal population was highest in animal receiving 100 per cent roughage based diet (T3) at 1 h post-feeding (5.14 x 10³). Thereafter, it gradually declined and reached a plateau after 4 h post-feeding. A similar trend was observed in animals receiving either, concentrate and wheat straw (T1) or concentrate and oat fodder (T2) in the raito of 50:50 on DM basis. Out of the six isolates, three (C1, C2 and C4) were polycentric and three (C5, Sm1 and Sm2) were monocesitric in nature. These isolates failed to grow on broth media, but grew on cellobiose soft agar (0,3%) producing variable amount of gas and acetate. The acetate production was maximum (7.535 nmol/ml) in isolate Sm-1. Only four isolates secreted endoglucanase during growth. Maximum endoglucanase activity (14.699 mIU/ml) was detected in CI isolate.