[Cellulase and Xylanase Activities of Endophytic and Soil Penicillium funiculosum Strains]

To carry out a comparative study of cellulase and xylanase activities of 16 endophytic and soil Penicillium funiculosum strains.

The objects of the study were 16 endophytic and soil P. funiculosum strains from culture collection of microscopic fungi of Department of Physiology and Taxonomy of Micromycetes of D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology of NASU. Cellulase and xylanase activities were determined by enzyme activity zone on solid agar media with soluble cellulose (Na-CMC) and hemicellulose (xylan) and by enzymatic index (EІ).

All investigated P. funiculosum strains, regardless of the isolation place, can hydrolyze Na-CMC and beech xylan. Enzymatic index was studied to characterize cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities of P. funiculosum strains from different econiches for the frst time. It was established that cellulase activity of endophytic P. funiculosum strains was medium and soil ones – from low to high. Endophytic strains showed low and medium xylanase activity, while the soil strains had only high activity.

It was established that endophytic and soil P. funiculosum strains were able to hydrolyze Na-CMC and beech xylan, while endophytes characterized by medium cellulase activity, and soil strains had from low to high level of this activity. Xylanase activity of endophytes was low, but soil isolates – only high one. Obtained experimental data might be the basis for explaining of endophytic life style of P. funiculosum in the plant, as well as in screening of producers of hydrolytic enzyme complexes for biotechnological purposes.