Screening for the economic production of hydrolytic enzymes from locally-isolated fungi

Abstract

Background Enzymes are complex proteins serving as biological catalysts to facilitate reactions in mild and environment-friendly conditions. Saprophytic fungi have long been harnessed for the efficient production of several industrially-significant enzymes whose market is still growing to cope with the increase in demand and natural resources’ depletion. Objective This investigation was performed with respect to the economic viewpoint of terrestrial fungi utilization and their hydrolytic enzymes’ biosynthetic potential. Materials and methods Several terrestrial fungi were isolated, cultivated on cheap agricultural wastes, and evaluated for industrial relevance. Solid-state fermentation was conducted to further boost the economic value and sustainability. The enzymatic productivity was estimated through solid-phase radial diffusion correlating the zones’ diameters to the enzymatic activity. Results and conclusion Six soil fungi were isolated, five belonging to the order Eurotiales and one to Mucorales. The molds belonged to four different genera; Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus ustus, Fennelia flavipes (anamorph: Aspergillus flavipes), Cunninghamella elegans and Paecilomyces lilacinus. Many of the tested agricultural wastes were able to support the biosynthesis of the explored constitutive enzymes, recording better activity than the standard synthetic medium. Under the test conditions, L-asparaginase and protease were the most frequently detected enzymes while banana and mandarine peels led to the highest enzymes’ activity. In light of the global direction towards sustainability, enzymes can have immense prospects to sustain the industrial sectors innocuously. The cost-effectiveness of the manufacturing processes can be enhanced by accommodating the fiscal challenges for operating conditions. Using agrarian residues as raw material, highly productive enzyme producers, and cheaper solid-state fermentation processes are factors that may contribute to the efficacy, efficiency and economic feasibility of the enzyme-based processes.