Evaluation of Lignocellulosic Agro Wastes for the Enhanced Production of Extracellular Cellulase and Xylanase by Trichoderma harzianum

In the present study, various lignocellulotic agro-wastes paddy straw, coir pith, sugarcane bagassae and dried leaf litter were evaluated for cellulase and xylanase enzyme production adopting solid state fermentation with different moisture levels ranging from 0 to 50% by soil isolate of Trichoderma harzianum. The crude enzyme obtained was partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and DEAE cellulose column chromatography. All the wastes supported growth and enzyme production. Maximum cellulase and xylanase production was recorded in paddy straw followed by sugarcane bagassae with 25% moisture content. Both the enzymes retained maximum activity at 60°C and pH 8.0. The partially purified enzyme by ammonium sulphate precipitation at 60% saturation followed by DEAE cellulose column chromatography yields pure xylanase with the molecular weight of 56 and 61 KD.