Studies on a better laccase-producing mutant of Fusarium incarnatum LD-3 under solid substrate tray fermentation

Forty-seven (47) mutant strains were generated from the wild-type fungus, Fusarium incarnatum strain LD-3 after exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and a further seventeen (17) mutants were generated after exposure to ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). Amongst these, the mutant strain, identified as UC-14, was the most promising laccase producer and produced threefold more laccase than the wild strain LD-3. Solid substrate tray fermentation using wheat straw and rice bran showed a twofold increase in laccase productivity and a fivefold loss of total organic matter (TOM) by mutant UC-14 over the wild strain LD-3. The mutant strain UC-14 also showed 25% and 54% weight loss of TOM after 36 days of fermentation which was 10% higher than the wild-type LD-3. Scanning electron microscopy suggested that the delayed condidiation in mutant strain UC-14 may be responsible for better laccase production.