Isolation and selection of cellulose-degrading soil fungi from several environments

Abstract

Subowo YB. Isolation and selection of cellulose-degrading soil fungi from several environments. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 423-427. A research on the isolation and selection of cellulose-degrading soil fungi from several habitats in West Kalimantan, Java and Bali has been done. Some types of soil fungi including Ascomycetes have the ability to decompose cellulose compounds contained in the plant tissue. This fungus can be used to degrade the waste comes from industrial agriculture, mostly containing cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In addition, some types of cellulose-degrading fungi have also been used to produce cellulase enzymes are widely used in industry. The aim of the research was to obtain fungal isolates that have the ability in cellulose degradation. Soil samples were taken from several habitats in West Kalimantan, Java and Bali, include peat land, dry land, the land of beaches, mangrove land, and agricultural land. Soil samples were taken to the laboratory for isolation of contained fungi. The results were obtained 84 numbers of isolates. After they grown on CMC medium obtained 77 isolates of fungi that form a clear zone (15 isolates from the large clear zone and 62 small clear zones) and 7 isolates did not form a clear zone. After the further selection was obtained Aspergillus niger PA2 which produces the highest weight of mycelium. This fungus has a cellulase enzyme activity of 0.031 units / mL, temperature optimum 50°C and pH optimum 7.