Lignocellulolytic activities of a novel strain of Trichoderma harzianum

This study describes a novel dark-green spore producing strain of Trichoderma harzianum exhibiting higher activities of cellulase, hemicellulase and ligninase on specific plate assays. To assess the cellulase production in detail, basal salt medium (BSM) was supplemented with synthetic [carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), glucose, sucrose, dextrose, lactose or maltose] and natural (flours of banana, banana peel, jack seed, potato or tapioca) carbon as well as nitrogen (yeast extract, beef extract, peptone, NaNO sub( 3) or NH sub( 4)NO sub( 3)) sources. Temperature and pH optima were 28 degree C and 4, respectively for the growth of the fungus in CMC-BSM with 146 U/ml cellulase activity. Flours of potato and banana supported comparable yields of cellulase to that of CMC (147 U/ml and 168 U/ml, respectively), while sodium nitrate was the preferred nitrogen source (150 U/ml). The water soluble yellowish-green pigment (a probable siderophore) extracted from the spores showed an absorption maximum at 414 nm. To comprise, this fungus shows the complete lignocellulolytic potential which offers great industrial significance, especially for the ethanol production from the lignocellulosic waste coupled with the production of a new pigment.