Cellulase and xylanase production from Candida easanensis using agricultural wastes as a substrate

Abstract

The production of cellulase and xylanase from Candida easanensis strain JK-8 was investigated. Different fermentation conditions were standardized for the growth and enzyme activity, the optimum being 72–96 hrs growth at initial pH 4.0, and cultivation temperature at 35°C. Of the different carbon sources on cellulase production, carboxymethyl cellulose gave the maximum production of 0.23 UmL-1. Among the carbon sources on xylanase production, the maximum enzyme activity was achieved in the medium containing Birchwood xylan (1.14 UmL-1). Amongst different agricultural waste samples (such as rice straw, corn husk, and sugarcane bagasse), corn husk gave the highest yields of cellulase and xylanase and the activities were 0.089 and 0.82 UmL-1, respectively. This study suggests that corn husk could be utilized as a carbon source for economical production of cellulase and xylanase by C. easanensis JK-8. This may in turn reduce the cost of enzyme production leading to efficient use of ligno-cellulosic materials to produce value-added products.

Keywords

• cellulase
• xylanase
• Candida easanensis
• agricultural waste