Production of Cellulases by the Endophytic Fungus Fusarium oxysporum

Abstract

Cellulose has enormous potential as a renewable energy source and the application of cellu lases in the conversion of cellulo lytic bio mass may provide great economical benefits; in addition, cellulases can be used in a wide range of industrial applications. Given the b iotechnological importance of cellulases, the aim of this study was to evaluate the production of cellulases by endophytic fungi o f the genus Fusarium oxysporum isolated fro m Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C. (Asteraceae). The studies were conducted using a basic substrate of sugarcane bagasse that was pretreated for complete removal of the sugar content. The material was dried at 28 ° C for 96 days and quantified every seven days after 25 days of fermentation. To quantify the en zy mes, the indirect spectrophotometric method was used, with DNS reagent. The results showed that the greatest peak of enzyme production was at 55 days of fermentation, with a yield of 55.21 ± 10.54 IU/g of fermented substrate, at pH 5.96. Thus, it can be concluded that the fungus Fusarium oxysporum is a producer of cellu lase enzy mes.