Isolation and Screening of Lignocellulolytic Fungi

Fresh dung, dung cakes, decomposed straw and rice husk were collected in polythene bags, distilled water was sprinkled to bring the moisture level to 50% and the material exposed to atmospheric temperature (16-20°C). The fruiting bodies of the fungus developed in a week’s time and these fungi were isolated by spore drop, direct streak and tissue culture methods. The qualitative screening of the various fungi was done by determining the cellulase and the phenol oxidase activities. The lignin degradation activity was determined on lignin agar plates. Growth studies were done using CMC as a sole source of carbon. Twelve fungi belonging to the genera Coprinus, Aspergillus, Panaeolus, Eupenicillium, Cladosporium and Fusarium were collected. One of the isolates was identified as Actinomycete. The lignin degradation was highest (37.62%) in case of Cladosporium followed by Actinomycete (34.21%) and Fusarium (31.28%). Other isolates showed a low lignin degradation in a range of 2.86% (Aspergillus) to 18.57% (Eupenicillium). Cellulose azure activity was also highest (0.349 OD) in case of Coprinus cinereus which showed 11.27% lignin degradation. All the isolates were positive for phenol oxidase activity except Eupenicillium, Aspergillus and Actinomycete. The biomass on CMC broth was more in case of Aspergillus (79. 30 mg) followed by Cladosporium (78.00 mg), Panaeolus (77.00 mg) and Coprinus cinereus (53.00 mg). These fungi manifested growth on paddy straw. A positive relation between phenol oxidase activity, lignin degradation on lignin agar plate and growth on paddy straw was evident.