A SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT DYE-BASED TECHNIQUE FOR RAPID SCREENING OF FUNGI FOR L-ASPARAGINASE PRODUCTION

Three hundred and sixty four (364) isolates of tropical soil fungi were screened for L-asparaginase production by rapid plate method using modified Czapek-Dox agar containing L-asparagine, and either bromo cresol purple or phenol red dye as an indicator. Results of the study revealed that total one hundred and thirty five (135) isolates showed positive reaction for L-asparaginase production as indicated by the color change in and around the colonies between 48-72 hours of incubation at 28 degrees C. A comparative study of the two indicator dyes with varying concentrations showed bromo cresol purple is a better and efficient indicator for L-asparaginase screening than phenol red. Quantitative estimation of L-asparaginase in the selected fungi showed Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. were good candidates for L-asparaginase production. All the article published by Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Based on a work at www.jebas.org.