| dc.description.abstract | The object of the present study was to isolate and identify obligate marine or marine-derived fungi that were hyper-laccase producers. The laccase from the selected marine-derived fungus was to be characterized and its application in bioremediation and biobleaching, studied. These objectives were fulfilled in the thesis.
Seventy-five fungi were isolated from decaying lignocellulosics from the mangrove swamps of Choraõ Island in Goa, using techniques such as particle-plating, hyphal and single spore isolation methods. Among these, fifteen isolates were found to be laccase producers. Out of these, three anamorphic fungi proved to be the most efficient dye decolourizers and laccase producers and were designated NIOCC #2a, NIOCC #7a and NIOCC #Xa. Among these, NIOCC #2a was the laccase hyper-producing strain selected for this study, since it was superior in terms of both laccase production and dye decolourization. It was deposited at the Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC)under accession no. 5159 and identified using rDNA homology to be a Cerrena unicolor strain. The fungus NIOCC #2a is therefore referred to as Cerrena unicolor MTCC 5159. Its marine origin was confirmed by achieving maximum growth in full strength (34 ppt)seawater and maximum laccase production in 25 ppt seawater.
Cerrena unicolor MTCC 5159 has a great potential in biobleaching processes as well as decolourizing dyes and industrial effluents and possesses at least one laccase which is of commercial importance. | |
