Sunday, August 12, 2012
Columbia Hall, Terrace Level (Washington Hilton)
Nine (9) locally isolated fungal strains were screened to select the most potent fungus producing β-mannanase on solid media. Aspergillus niger was the most potent, producing enzyme of high activity. Utilization of various agro-industrial residues on mannanase production was evaluated. Bannana peels at a concentration of 10g/L proved an optimum natural substrate by reaching the highest β-mannanase activity of 21.30U/ml and protein content of 2.687mg/ml with soya bean meal at a concentration of 2g/L as nitrogen source. Optimum incubation temperature and pH for enzyme production were 30oC and 6.5 respectively and an inoculum size of 2x106 spores/ml. Natural substrates might be useful for production of enzyme in a commercial scale.