Isolation and identification of two new fungal strains for xylanase production

Fungi are well known for their ability to excrete enzymes into the environment. The aim of this work was to evaluate xylanase production by fungi isolated from soil. One hundred and thirty-six fungal isolates were screened for xylanase production. Two xylanase producing isolates, FSS117 and FSS129, were identified on the basis of analyses of 5,8S gene sequencing. The closest phylogenetic neighbors according to 5,8S gene sequence data for the two isolates were Aspergillus tubingensis and Aspergillus terreus, respectively. When birchwood xylan or corn cob hulls was used as a substrate for 5 days under submerged culture cultivation, xylanase production from A. terreus FSS129 was 113 and 174 IU ml(-1), respectively. The pH and temperature for optimum xylanase activity were 8 and 65 degrees C.