Production of Xyloglucanases from Three Species of Filamentous Fungi - Fusarium equiseti, Aspergillus terreus and Cephalosporium sp.

Agro-industrial residues containing lingo-cellulosic material have attracted wide attention in recent years as raw material for the production of many industrial enzymes. Three filamentous fungi viz. Fusarium equiseti, Aspergillus terreus and Cephalosporium sp. capable of producing xyloglucanase, using tamarind seed powder as the sole organic carbon source for growth, were isolated from soil samples collected near Bangalore. The present work aims at production of xyloglucanases from these organisms and alteration of production conditions for enhancement of activity. Czapek Dox medium produced higher activity of 97.2, 67.2 and 65.2 U/hr/ml culture filtrate from Aspergillus terreus, Fusarium equiseti and Cephalosporium sp. respectively. The enzyme activity of Cephalosporium sp. and A. terreus XG increased by 3.45 and 1.5 folds in the presence of 40 mM Mg2+ while in F. equiseti, XG activity increased 3.35 fold in the presence of 60 mM Mg2+. All three enzymes were secretory while the xyloglucanase from A. terreus was identified to be membrane bound.