Abstract
In nature, microorganisms including fungi are the most efficient cellulose and hemicelluloses degraders through production of lignocellulosic enzymes. Termitomyces spp., a wild edible mushroom is well known for production of lignocellulosic enzymes. Twenty isolates of Termitomyces spp. were isolated at 10<sup>-4</sup> dilution with pour plate method from different locations of termite mound soil of Tamil Nadu. Based on their morphological and cultural characteristics, the isolates were identified as Termitomyces. Growth conditions and cultural characteristics of Termitomyces spp. isolates were studied. The results showed that the isolates grew well in Malt extract agar medium with pH 5.5 when incubated at 27℃ for 7 days. The isolates were screened for the activity of enzymes e.g., cellulase, amylase, xylanase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities at seven different incubation periods. Maximum activity of the enzymes was observed on 12<sup>th</sup> day after inoculation which declined thereafter.
Highlights
About 40-60 million years before the advent of human agriculture, three insect lineages like Termites, Ants and Beetles independently evolved the ability to use fungi for food
The synergistic activities of termites and different lignocellulose enzymes complex are responsible for degradation of plant cell walls [4]
Different author suggests that Termitomyces spp. produce cellulases and xylanases which degrade cellulose and hemicellulose respectively [8, 9]
Summary
About 40-60 million years before the advent of human agriculture, three insect lineages like Termites, Ants and Beetles independently evolved the ability to use fungi for food. On the termite comb white spherical yeast like colony fungal structures are commonly observed These structures of Termitomyces have been described by various authors under different names. Associated with woody debris and forest litter, these fungi are able to depolymerize, degrade and fully mineralize all cell wall polymers, including cellulose, hemicelluloses, and the normally rather recalcitrant polymer lignin [6].In addition, termites and other animals have made use of these capacities by utilizing microbial symbionts in the digestion of lignocellulosic food [7]. Different author suggests that Termitomyces spp. produce cellulases and xylanases which degrade cellulose and hemicellulose respectively [8, 9]. Termitomyces albuminosus partially degrades plant materials, probably including lignin, to help digestion of cellulosic resources by termites [14]. The present study has been conducted to screen the Termitomyces spp. for lignocellulosic enzyme production
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