Production and Characterization of Xylanases from Fungal Isolate Aspergillus Terreus and Development of Low Cost Fermentation Media

Fungal isolate, Aspergillus terreus, was utilized for the production of hydrolytic enzymes through solid state fermentation of wheat bran. After 5 days of incubation, 116 U/g xylanase, 1.53 fpu/g cellulase and 16.99 cmc/g carboxymethyl cellulase was produced. The optimum pH and temperature for the activity of xylanase enzyme was found to be pH 5 and 60oC. The zymogram analysis of the native enzyme shows the presence of single xylanase band with the molecular weight of 91.67 KDa. Low cost nutrient supplements such as the corn cob as the carbon substrate and biogas slurry as the nitrogen supplement can offer a low cost medium for the production of xylanase enzyme by A. terreus.