Screening of inulinolytic potentialities of some fungi isolated from Egyptian soil

Forty five soil samples from different sites of non-cultivated soil, salt marshes and rhizosphere of some wild and cultivated soils collected from seven governorates of Egypt were used as local source for isolation of some inulinolytic fungi. Forty six fungal species belonging to three sub-divisions of Zygomycotina, Ascomycotina and Deutromycotina were identified. Eight unknown filamentous fungi characterized by their black reverse color on PDA medium and Czapek agar plates were recorded. Frequency of occurrence indicates that Aspergillus foetidus var. pallidus (frequency 52.2%) was the most dominant followed by A. sclerotiorum (39.1%). All fungi were able to grow on medium containing sugar cane bagasse and Jerusalem artichoke tubers powder (1:1). No significant correlation observed between the fungal growth, liberated soluble protein and inulinase activities. Inulinase activity indicate that Aspergillus foetidus var. pallidus (564.71±1.22 Ugds-1), A. sclerotiorum (534.78±1.37 Ugds-1), Emericella nidulans (495.73±3.85 Ugds-1) and A. aculeatus (444.37±2.37 Ugds-1) were the most active fungal species able to produce a considerable amount of enzyme activity. © 2014 Asian Network for Scientific Information.