Effects of various agro-wastes on xylanase and beta-xylosidase production of anaerobic ruminal fungi

This study presents effects of agro-wastes (wheat straw, barley straw, oat straw and corncobs) on production of extracellular xylanase and beta-xylosidase of anaerobic fungal strains (10), isolated from fecal samples of cattle, goat and sheep. Orpinomyces sp. P4 exhibited remarkable xylanase activity (3.67 - 5.01 U ml(-1)) on all sustrates. Cyllamyces sp. P7 showed least xylanase activity, however produced more xylanase in corncob containing medium (3.18 U ml(-1)) as compared to other substrates. Secretion of beta-xylosidase was comparatively lower in polycentric isolates as compared to monocentric isolates. Neocallimastix sp. M2 produced maximum beta-xylosidase activity (1.87 U ml(-1)) in xylan containing culture.