Investigation of Cellulolytic Yeast from Soil and Leaf litter of Savanna in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract

Cellulolytic yeast plays an important role in several bio-industrial processes, including as probiotic, as well as in sustainable energy and feed production. These yeasts can be isolated from various substrates, including soil and leaf litter. As one of the mega biodiversity countries, Indonesia has a variety of natural ecosystems, one of which has not been studied much is the savanna. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the cellulolytic yeast isolated from the savanna area in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. A total of 20 isolates, belonging to ascomycetous and basidiomycetous yeast were obtained in this study. The cellulolytic potential of these yeast was determined by hydrolyses of carboxymethyl cellulose on agar plate and production of endoglucanase enzyme in liquid cultures. The strains AK5 and AK6, identified as Candida tenuis, were promising as cellulolytic yeast. Together with Rhodosporidium paludigenum AK1, these two strains were further tested for endoglucanase activity varies in temperature, nitrogen sources, and pH. The C. tenuis AK5 and AK6 showed the highest endoglucanase activity at temperature 35 oC and pH 7, while the R. paludigenum AK1 showed the highest activity at temperature 30 oC and pH 6. The best nitrogen source for endoglucanase production in strains AK5 and AK1 was yeast extract, while in strain AK6 was peptone.