Production of Xylanase on Different Synthetic Media by Three Fruit-Rot Fungi of Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.)

Abstract

Production of xylanase by three fruit-rot fungi – Macrophomina phaseolina R-4242, Fusarium oxysporum sp.QJC-1403 and Nigrospora oryzae NRRL 54030 – isolated from the decaying fruits of banana on (Musa paradisiaca L.) on seven different synthetic media was investigated. The results showed that all the three pathogens studied were able to produce xylanase; however, the enzyme activity varied with the substratum and the pathogen inoculated. Medium G (xylose-peptone medium) supported good growth and maximum xylanase production (166.2 U/ml) by M. phaseolina, while F. oxysporum and N. oryzae recorded maximum xylanase production (154.1 U/ml and 167.3 U/ml) in medium B [Asthana and Hawker’s medium supplemented with 0.5% of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)]. Supplementation of production media with external carbon source CMC had positive effect on enzyme production by F. oxysporum and N.oryzae but M. phaseolina exhibited less enzyme activity in the presence of CMC, suggesting the constitutive nature of the enzyme produced by it. The study of period of incubation for xylanase production was optimized. Xylanase production was found to be optimum on 10^th day of incubation period.