Identification and Characterization of Cellulase Producing Fungi.

ABSTRACT

Hymenula cerealis, Neottiosporella radiata, Sphaerosporium lignatile, and Monilochaetes infuscans were isolated from soil of Botanical Garden, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The soil sample was serially diluted and isolation was done using pour plate method. The organisms were then screened for cellulase production using carboxymethyl cellulase and Congo red. 

The screening result showed that Hymenula cerealis, Neottiosporella radiata, and Sphaerosporium lignatile are capable of cellulase production while Monilochaetes infuscans is not capable cellulase production. Hymenula cerealis showed the highest cellulase activity while Sphaerosporium lignatile showed the least.

TABLE OF CONTENTpage

Title page………………………………………………………………………………. i

Certification……………………………………………………………………………ii

Dedication……………………………………………………………………………. iii

Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………. iv

Table of content…………………………………………………………………………v

List of tables……………………………………………………………………………viii

List of figures…………………………………………………………………………..ix

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………x

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction and Literature review 

1.1Cellulose……………………………………………………………………………….1

1.1.1History of Cellulose………………………………………………………………….3

1.1.2Properties of Cellulose………………………………………………………………3

1.1.3Cellulolysis…………………………………………………………………………5

1.2Enzyme………………………………………………………………………………….6

1.2.1History and Entymology of Enzymes……………………………………………….6

1.2.2Characteristics of Enzymes………………………………………………………….8

1.2.3Structure of Enzymes……………………………………………………………….9

1.2.4Mechanisms of Enzyme Action…………………………………………………….10

1.2.5Classes of Enzyme…………………………………………………………………12

1.2.6Uses and Industrial Application of Enzymes……………………………………...12

1.3Cellulase……………………………………………………………………………….14

1.3.1Types of Cellulase…………………………………………………………………14

1.3.2Structure of Cellulase………………………………………………………………15

1.3.3Mechanism of Cellulolysis………………………………………………………….16

1.3.4Uses of Cellulase…………………………………………………………………….18

1.3.5Measurement of Cellulase………………………………………………………….18

1.4Fungi…………………………………………………………………………………….21

1.4.1Morphology of Fungi………………………………………………………………….22

1.4.2Human Use of Fungi………………………………………………………………….23

1.4.3Examples of Cellulase Producing Fungi……………………………………………...29

1.5Objectives………………………………………………………………………………...29

CHAPTER TWO: Materials and Methods

2.1 Materials………………………………………………………………………….30

2.1.1 Sterilization of Materials……………………………………………………….30

2.1.2 Collection of Sample……………………………………………………………30

2.2 Preparation of Culture Media…………………………………………………….31

2.2.1 Preparation of Potato Dextrose Agar…………………………………………...31

2.2.2 Preparation of Screening Media………………………………………………...31

2.3 Microbiological Analysis of Sample…………………………………………….31

2.3.1 Serial Dilution………………………………………………………………….31

2.3.2 Isolation of Organisms…………………………………………………………31

2.4 Characterization of Fungal Isolates………………………………………………32

2.4.1 Staining with Lactophenol Cotton Blue……………………………………….32

2.5 Screening for Cellulase Production……………………………………………….32

CHAPTER THREE: Results

3.1 Identification of Fungal Isolates………………………………………………….33

3.2Screening of Fungal Isolates for Cellulase Production…………………………….33

CHAPTER FOUR: Discussion and Conclusion

4.1 Discussion……………………………………………………………………….36

4.2 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………38

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………39

APPENDIX………………………………………………………………………….56

LIST OF TABLES

Title               page

Table 1: Some applications of Enzymes in the Industry…………………………………………13

Table 2: Characterization and Identification of Fungi isolated from soil of Botanical Garden…34

Table 3: Screening of Fungal Isolates from soil of Botanical Garden for Cellulase Production.....................................................................................................................................35

LIST OF FIGURES

Title                                                   page

Figure 1: cellulose structure………………………………………………………………....2

Figure 2: A strand of Cellulose Showing Hydrogen Bonds………………………………...4

Figure 3: Mechanism of Cellulolysis……………………………………………………….17