Saccharification of Banana Agro-waste by Isolated Cellulolytic Fungi

Lignocellulose is the most abundant and renewable biomaterial on the earth. Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars by cellulase enzymes (Saccharification) has significant advantages over other alternative energy production strategies. Although both bacteria and fungi can produce cellulase enzymes, the latter has potential in producing more efficient cellulases. This study was initiated with isolation and screening of cellulolytic fungi from six places of banana growing fields. Six fungal isolates were obtained in this research and two isolates showed cellulolytic activity according to plate screening assay. By examining their microscopic morphology, these two isolates were belonging to two genera i.e. Penicillium and Trichoderma. Morphological observation was done on various media. The glucose production patterns of these two cellulolytic fungi were investigated in two broth cultures with different carbon sources. One culture medium contained cellulose and another one contained dried and ground banana psuedostem powder as sole carbon sources. A glucose standard curve was constructed to estimate the glucose concentration in the broth culture media of the two fungi. Along the 20-day period of incubation, Penicillium sp. produced the most amount of glucose,440.2651µg/mL, at 6th day in cellulose media. In banana powder media, glucose concentration in the culture of Trichoderma sp.,288.1893 µg/mL, at 8th day was more than that in the culture of Penicillium sp. during 20 days of investigation. Knowing the glucose production time and amount of cellulolytic fungi would be useful for the next upcoming research works