PECTINASE PRODUCTION FROM WILD STRAINS OF ASPERGILLUS SPP. ISOLATED FROM NATURAL RESOURCES

Date

2023-7-20

Author

Cengiz, Sertan

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The increasing global fruit product consumption necessitates research for efficient juice extraction processes, where enzymes, particularly pectinases, play a crucial role. Pectinases can break down pectins in plant cell walls, enhancing extraction efficiency. This study aims to investigate pectinase production from wild Aspergillus spp. strains isolated from natural resources in Ankara, Turkey. Additionally, screening for wild strains can provide a broader range of working conditions suited to different extraction processes. The focus of this research was also to obtain pectinase-producing strains with optimal working conditions for acidic environments and high temperatures commonly encountered in fruit juice extraction. The proposed methodology involved the isolation and screening of Aspergillus spp. strains from environmental samples, followed by morphological analysis and single colony isolation. The isolated strains underwent pectinase assay using modified growth media. The strain exhibiting the highest enzyme activity (4.08 IU/mL) was further identified as Aspergillus brasiliensis and subjected to fermentation experiments to determine optimal nitrogen source, time and temperature. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the identification of pectinase-producing Aspergillus spp. strains with favorable enzymatic activity under acidic and high-temperature conditions (pH 5.5, 50° C). Ultimately, the chosen isolate exhibited high enzyme activity (9.99 IU/ml at 120 hour) and specific activity (148.42 IU/mg at 48 hour) at 30°C with multiple nitrogen sources. The utilization of wild strains and the exploration of their enzymatic potential have the potential to drive innovation and advancements in various biotechnological fields.

Subject Keywords

aspergillus, pectinase, fruit juice, wild strain, isolation

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/104901

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Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis