Screening of Actinomycetes as the source of xylanase from soil using wheat bran as a substrate

DOI: 10.5176/2251-2489_BioTech15.38

Authors: Lalita Limaye and R.C.Patil

Abstract: Actinomycetes are soil bacteria, known to produce secondary metabolites like enzymes and thus have proved to be commercially valuable. Present study involved the screening of actinomycetes with ability to produce extracellular enzyme xylanase. Enzyme xylanase acts on xylan , a major component of hemicellulosic material of the plant. Compost, hay pile, home compost pit, mangrove area and regions with thick forestation were chosen as the sampling locales for the isolation of actinomycetes. 64 actinomycete isolates were obtained out of which 33 were xylanase positive. Selection of xylanase producers was done on the basis of Cx ratio of the qualitative plate assay using Congo red . 5 shortlisted isolates A-34, A-30, A-26, J-5 and J-2 were screened further for xylanase in the liquid medium. Wheat bran was used as the source of xylan. Enzyme xylanase produced by isolate A-26 showed tolerance to pH 9 at 600C . Enzyme activity was not affected even when isolate was grown in the medium supplemented with 5{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} NaCl. This could be related to the source of A-26 sample which was collected from Versova mangrove. Thus enzyme from A-26 showed halo-tolerance, thermo-stability and alkali-tolerance.

Keywords: xylanase, actinomycete, alkalitolerance, thermostability, wheat bran