Cellulose is world’s most abundant organic substance and comprises a major storage form of glucose. Microbial cellulose utilization is responsible for one of the largest material flow in the biosphere. This study was carried out to isolate and identify cellulose degrading microbes from manure samples and decaying wood collected from different regions. Point 1g (0.1g) of compost manure and decaying wood from 10-3 and 10-4 serially diluted were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar enriched with 1% Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose (CMC) as a sole source of carbon. Cellulase production by fungi was measured by using enzyme assay. Four different types of cellulose degrading fungi was isolated from three different soil samples and decaying wood for cellulose degradation. A total of four isolates each of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus funmigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus microsporum were isolated. Rhizopus microsporum shows the highest zone of clearance in the cellulose detection medium. Clear zone around the colony was an indication of the cellulose degradation activity of the microorganisms; thus, indigenous microbes could be a potential source of cellulolytic microbes which can be explored for use in many applications.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
CHAPTER TWO: Literature review
2.1 Cellulose
2.1.1 History of Cellulose
2.1.2 Uses of Cellulose
2.1.3 Cellulase
2.2 Carboxylmethyl Cellulose (CMC)
2.3 Structure and composition of Cellulosic biomass
2.4 Ecological Aspects of Cellulose degrading communities
2.5 Factors responsible for Cellulose degradation
2.6 Cellulose degradation in compost manure
2.7 Cellulose degradation in decaying wood
2.8 Cellulose degradation in soil
2.9 Cellulose degradation in Rumen
CHAPTER THREE: Materials and methods
3.1 Materials
3.2 Collection site
3.3 Sample collection
3.4 Glassware and metal preparation
3.5 Preparation of Saboraud Dextrose Agar
3.6 Serial dilution
3.7 Method of isolation
3.8 Identification of fungi isolation
3.9 Detection of cellulase activity
3.10 Assay of Cellulase Enzymes
3.11 Preparation of fungi filtrate
CHAPTER FOUR: Results
CHAPTER FIVE: Discussion and conclusion
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