SCREENING FOR EXTRACELLULAR ENZYMES AND PRODUCTION OF CELLULASE BY AN ENDOPHYTIC ASPERGILLUS sp, USING CAULIFLOWER STALK AS SUBSTRATE

Abstract

Agricultural and industrial wastes are among the causes of environmental pollution. Their conversion to useful products may ameliorate the problems they cause. The present study was carried out to maximize economic benefits by microbial activity for waste management. Endophytic Aspergillus sp. of Adathoda beddomei was screened for production of various hydrolytic enzymes. The production of cellulase using cauliflower stalk as substrate was reported. The saccharification of cauliflower stalk by endophytic Aspergillus was studied by CMC assay and FPU assay with potato pieces as control substrate. The effect of time on the cellulase activity indicated that the activity was at peak till 6 days, whereas it decreased from the 7th day.