Isolation and characterization of efficient cellulolytic fungi from degraded wood and industrial samples

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer and renewable natural product in the biosphere. Cellulose degrading fungal strains play an important role in recycling of cellulosic materials. They have immense advantage in various industries to hydrolyze cellulosic substrates for production of various products. This study was thus aimed to isolate and characterize efficient cellulose degrading fungi from their common natural habitats. Decaying Acacia wood and industrial water effluent samples were used for isolation and screening of cellulolytic fungi. Both samples were serially diluted and cultured on cellulose basal medium (CBM) supplemented with 30 mg/L chloramphenicol as bactericidal agent. Cellulose degrading fungal isolates were selected based on their hydrolyzed zone after congo red dye stain. Among 13 initial isolates, four isolates (C, E, G, and H) were finally screened as the most efficient fungal isolates representing only degraded Acacia tree. These isolates were confirmed as Penicillium species (C), Apergillus terrus (G), Alternaria species (H) and Apergillus species (E). From this study, the decaying Acacia sample was found to be the best source for cellulolytic fungi than that of wastewater sample. Out of these isolates, the maximum zone of hydrolysis (51.33±1.53 mm) was obtained for ‘isolate E’, whereas the minimum zone of clearance (26.67±1.53 mm) was recorded for penicillium species. This study indicates the existence of potential cellulolytic fungal on decayed wood of Acacia. Hence, further molecular aided characterizations of the isolates and their enzymes are of paramount importance for their use for industrial purposes.Keywords: Cellulase, cellulosic basal medium, congored, fungi, zone of hydrolysi

Enset in Ethiopia: a poorly characterized but resilient starch staple

BACKGROUND: Enset (Ensete ventricosum, Musaceae) is an African crop that currently provides the staple food for approx. 20 million Ethiopians. Whilst wild enset grows over much of East and Southern Africa and the genus extends across Asia to China, it has only ever been domesticated in the Ethiopian Highlands. Here, smallholder farmers cultivate hundreds of landraces across diverse climatic and agroecological systems. SCOPE: Enset has several important food security traits. It grows over a relatively wide range of conditions, is somewhat drought-tolerant, and can be harvested at any time of the year, over several years. It provides an important dietary starch source, as well as fibres, medicines, animal fodder, roofing and packaging. It stabilizes soils and microclimates and has significant cultural importance. In contrast to the other cultivated species in the family Musaceae (banana), enset has received relatively little research attention. Here, we review and critically evaluate existing research, outline available genomic and germplasm resources, aspects of pathology, and explore avenues for crop development. CONCLUSION: Enset is an underexploited starch crop with significant potential in Ethiopia and beyond. Research is lacking in several key areas: empirical studies on the efficacy of current agronomic practices, the genetic diversity of landraces, approaches to systematic breeding, characterization of existing and emerging diseases, adaptability to new ranges and land-use change, the projected impact of climate change, conservation of crop wild relatives, by-products or co-products or non-starch uses, and the enset microbiome. We also highlight the limited availability of enset germplasm in living collections and seedbanks, and the lack of knowledge of reproductive and germination biology needed to underpin future breeding. By reviewing the current state of the art in enset research and identifying gaps and opportunities, we hope to catalyse the development and sustainable exploitation of this neglected starch crop.status: publishe