Enzyme Profile of Aquatic Hyphomycetes Isolated from the Streams of Kodagu District of Karnataka

Abstract

Aquatic hypomycetes, isolated from the streams of Bloomfields, Somwarpet of Kodagu district, are capable of secreting an array of wall degrading enzyme, which transform the leaf litter into more palatable food for the detrivores. The objectives of the present study was to check the ability of these fungi in producing wall degrading enzymes invitro. Only two of the fungi namely Acremonium sps. and a non sporulating unidentified white colony producing sps. wre used for the Present study. These were grown on media containing cellulose, starch and pectin as substrate and their ability to produce cellulose, anylase, invertase and pectinase studied. Depending upon the availability of the substrate these fungi were able to produce varying conc. of enzymes. It was very interesting to note that the non-sporulating sps. showed a nine fold increase in pectinase production compared to Acremonium sps.