Cellulase from isolates of banana fields in Nanjangud and Bannur villages of Mysore district

Banana is one of the widely used fruit though out the world and it is grown almost in all seasons and places, so in the present study fungal species were isolated from banana fields and banana plantation dumping yards for cellulase which can be used for the bioconversion of banana plantation waste generated after the recovery of fruits. Samples of soil and leaf were obtained from villages of Nanjangud and Bannur villages the fungal isolated were tested to find their ability to produce cellulase( which can degrade cellulose, which is a homopolymer made of glucose units linked by β1, 4 glycosidic bonds) Out of 35 fungal colonies7 showed cellulytic activity and three fungal strains noticed to show maximum zone of hydrolysis of carboxyl-methyl cellulose and cellulase produced by the fungi were determined by carboxy methyl cellulose assay. Maximum cellulase production was obtained after 72 hr of incubation at 37°C in Czapek-Dox broth supplemented with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose medium and the pH was adjusted to 4.5-5.0. Fungal studies indicated Aspergillus and Curvularia and Fusarium were more frequent fungal strains found and banana fields and banaba plantation dumping yards. The purpose of the current study was to screen potential cellulytic fungi from the Banana fields in order to study the use of them for the bioconversion of the banana wastes into usable form.