Abstract

INFLUENCE OF PROCESS PARAMETERS ON CHITINASE PRODUCTION BY A MANGROVE FUNGUS STACHYBOTRYS CHLOROHALONATA ISOLATED FROM NIZAMPATNAM, A. P. INDIA

Rajesh Butti, Sunita Guntagani and Vijayalakshmi Muvva*

Abstract

Microbial enzymes especially of fungal origin from mangrove habitats attract great attention due to their broad industrial applications. The present study is aimed at screening and optimization of chitinase production by mangrove fungi Stachybotrys chlorohalonata. The fungal isolates were screened for chitinase production and the chitinase production was estimated by modified colorimetric method described by Reissig et al. (1955). Among 56 fungal strains isolated from mangrove sediment, S. chlorohalonata was found to produce significant amount of chitinase. Maximum production of chitinase was found in optimized culture medium viz. Czapek-Dox broth (pH 7.0) amended with colloidal chitin (1%) and peptone (1%) as carbon and nitrogen sources and incubated at 30 °C for 18 days. The mangrove fungus S. chlorohalonata is capable of producing higher levels of chitinase, which gives a hope for industrial exploitation.

Keywords: Chitinase, Stachybotrys chlorohalonata, N-acetyl- D-glucosamine, Mangrove Fungi, Optimization.