PRODUCTION OF POLYGALACTURONASE BY BYSSOCHLAMYS-FULVA

Byssochlamys fulva was grown in two fermentation media using shake flasks, stirred fermentor and disc fermentor under conditions to give maximum production of pectolytic enzymes. Only polygalacturonase activity was detected in the culture filtrates during all fermentations. In all production conditions studied, no evidence of pectin methylesterase, pectin lyase, cellulase or proteinase activities were found. The maximum polygalacturonase activity (4.5 units/ml) was achieved when the microorganism was grown on medium II in shake flasks at pH 4.0-4.5 and 30-degrees-C after 12 days of fermentation.