Screening, Production and Characterization of Fungal Peroxidase

The production of Manganese dependent peroxidase by white rot fungus Aspergillus spp. was studied in solid state and submerged cultures using agriculture and food wastes as substrate like wood chips, wheat straw, saw dust. White rot fungi secrete this enzyme to aid lignin degradation. The aim of this research is to obtain indigenous fungus producing manganese peroxidase from different sources, production of enzyme by Solid state fermentation and submerged fermentation and estimate enzyme activity. Screening was done by plate assay technique using Potato dextrose agar medium with 1.0 % methylene blue and microscopic morphology of fungi was studied by slide culture technique and Aspergillus spp. identified. Production of enzyme was done by using Manganese production medium. The enzyme activity was estimated by phenol red as substrate. The highest activities of manganese peroxidase were found in wood chips 1.72 U/mL by submerged fermentation. The best condition of manganese peroxidase activity was cultivation at low moisture (50-70%). Cultures with crude enzyme which contain high manganese peroxidase activity were more powerful to decolorization of dyes like; methylene blue, phenol red.