The lignocellulolytic effect from newly wild white rot fungi isolated from Colombia

Abstract

Lignocellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on earth. It isthe main agro-industrial waste component, it has no added value, and in somecases is the main cause of environmental problems. The fungi can be used inthe transformation of residues and different biotechnological processes. In thepresent research, seven strains of white rot fungi collected in Ibagué(Colombia) were isolated. The production of ligninolytic and cellulolyticenzymes as well as their capacity to transform lignocellulose from banana peel,rice husk and cocoa pod husk were evaluated. Strains of Pycnoporussanguineus, Hexagonia glabra and Lentinus crinitus were selected from theenzymatic screening and showed high production of ligninolytic enzymes.The evaluation of agricultural waste degradation was carried out byFourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and the results showed the ability ofthe tested fungi to, preferentially, degrade lignin or cellulose in each substrate.Based on the results, different biotechnological potentialities for each strainwere proposed.