Abstract

ISOLATION OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI FROM AZADIRACHTA INDICA AND PRELIMINARY SCREENING FOR LACCASE ENZYME ACTIVITY

Kathiravan Subramanian and *Krishnakumari Shanmugasundaram

ABSTRACT

Laccase belongs to the blue multicopper oxidases and participates in cross - linking of monomers, degradation of polymers and ring cleavage of aromatic compounds. The objective of this present study was to isolate the endophytic fungal strains from the fruit samples of Azadirachta indica and screen the isolated strains for laccase production. The fruit samples were inoculated in the potato dextrose agar medium and a total of 3 strains were isolated and used for further studies. The strains were inoculated in the potato dextrose broth and analysed for laccase enzyme production. The protein content of the liquid cultures were also analysed. The results showed the ability of the isolated fungal strains capable of producing laccase enzyme which can play a vital role in bioremediations.

Keywords: endophytic fungi, Azadirachta indica, laccase, potato dextose agar.