Production of Pectinase and Xylanase by Aspergillus sojae and Its Effect on the Qualitative Improvement of Jute Fibre.

Jute is a lignocellulosic bast fibre and contains non-fibrous materials. As a result, it is coarse, hard and stiff and requires softening. Partial removal of non-fibrous materials would make the jute cuttings considerably softened.l-3) Chemical and microbiological processes for softening of jute cuttings have been reported by several workers.4-7) The crude enzymes of Aspergillus terreus appeared to be useful for hydrolytic removal of pectin and hemicellulose from low quality jute.5' 6' Hence the present study has been carried out to produce pectinlyase [EC 4.2.2.10], polygalacturonase [EC 3.2.1.15] and xylanase [EC 3.2.1.32] from a pectinolytic fungus, Aspergillus sojae to examine their effects on the softening of low quality jute and jute cuttings.