Microbial production of multienzyme preparation from mosambi peel using Trichoderma asperellum

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Industrial Microbiology
• Enzyme Technology
• Waste Valorization

Background:

• Fruit and vegetable waste, such as mosambi (Citrus limetta) peel, contributes to environmental pollution and unhygienic conditions.
• Utilizing this waste as a substrate for microbial enzyme production presents an eco-friendly and potentially profitable solution for waste management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using mosambi peel as a substrate for the microbial production of pectinase, cellulase, and amylase.
• To isolate and identify a suitable microorganism for efficient multienzyme production from mosambi peel waste.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and screening of fifteen fungal strains from organic waste for their enzyme-producing capabilities on mosambi peel.
• Identification of the best-performing isolate as Trichoderma asperellum NG-125 (accession number-MW287256).
• Optimization of fermentation conditions (temperature, pH, incubation time, nutrient supplementation) for maximum enzyme yield and characterization of purified enzymes via SDS-PAGE.

Main Results:

• Trichoderma asperellum NG-125 demonstrated significant potential for producing pectinase, cellulase, and amylase from mosambi peel.
• Optimal production conditions included pH 5.5, 30°C, and 10 days of fermentation, with enhanced yields upon addition of ammonium sulfate and potassium-di-hydrogen-ortho-phosphate.
• Purified enzymes showed molecular masses of 43 kDa (pectinase), 66 kDa (cellulase), and 33 kDa (amylase), with high enzyme retention activity on bagasse matrix.

Conclusions:

• Mosambi peel is a viable and sustainable substrate for the cost-effective production of pectinase, cellulase, and amylase by Trichoderma asperellum.
• The study highlights the potential of T. asperellum as a multifaceted biocatalyst for waste valorization and enzyme manufacturing.