Production of Poly Methyl Galacturonase (PMG) by Six fruit rot fungi and its possible use in fruit Juice Technology

Pectinases are group of enzymes that attack pectin and depolymerize it by hydrolysis and transelimination. Polymethyl galacturonase catalyzes the cleavage of  – 1, 4-glycosidic linkage of pectin with exo (sequential) and endo (random) activities. The maximum endo PMG in Asthana and Hawker’s medium showed by Rhizoctonia solani during its 14 days (50.0 RVU). the Endo PMG was studied in six fruits i.e., Apples, Mango, Tomato, Sapota, Grapes and Orange. The maximum endo PMG was recorded in Grapes (62.4 RVU) by Aspergillus niger and next best organism is A. flavus, while the maximum exo PMG was noticed in Penicillium citrinum (1070 g/ml) during its 7 days of incubation and in vivo studies showed the maximum activity in sapota fruits 995 g/ml by Mucor racemosus and in orange fruits by A.niger. These potential fungal strains viz., Apergillum niger, A. flavus, Penicillium citrinum and Mucor racemosus shall pave the way for exploitation of these fungal enzymes in fruit juice technology.