Screening and characterization lignin degrading fungi from decayed sawdust

In this study an attempt was made to characterize the lignolytic fungi against various growth conditions. The decayed sawdust sample was collected and screened for lignolytic fungi using Malt extract medium containing of tannic acid as lignin equivalent. Seven fungal isolates such as and Trichoderma spp, Penicillium spp, Aspergillus niger, Botrytis spp, Rhizopus spp, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium spp2 were selected based on their solubilization index against tannic acid. All these isolates were further characterized for their activity to degrade lignin analogue i.e., tannic acid with various growth conditions such as concentration of tannic acid (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25%) different temperature (28°C, 37°C and 45°C) and various pH ( acidic, neutral and alkaline) conditions. The bacterial isolates such as Penicillium spp, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichoderma spp were showed the better lignolytic activity at a concentration of 1.0 percent tannic acid in the acidic (pH 6.0) and neutral (pH 7.0) conditions at 37o