Keratinolytic fungi isolated from Asam Kumbang Crocodile Breeding Farm, Medan, North Sumatra

Abstract

Abstract Hydrolysis of keratin waste by fungi is an alternative biotechnology for recycling and valorization by utilizing its keratinolytic activities. The purpose of this study was to isolate the keratinolytic fungi and to test the degradation ability of chicken feather keratin. Crocodile feces and soil samples were collected from crocodile breeding farm in Asam Kumbang, North Sumatera. Casein and keratin of basal feather agar of 1% was used to isolate keratinolytic fungi. Fungal isolate was grown in feather meal broth incubated at 28°C and shake at 180 rpm using shaking orbital. Remain chicken feather was weighted after application of keratinolytic fungi. After 4 days of incubation two fungi showed to have clear zone around their colony. THB7 was found to have relatively high hydrolysis zone in casein, while FB4 degraded more keratin in keratin agar. Most feather was degraded in 10, 12, and 16 days in THB7, FB4, and THB4 application respectively. THB4 showed to degrade feather to 1.6 g, while FB3 and FB4 remained feather to 2 and 3.4 of 10 g respectively. Further study includes molecular identification, characterization and keratinase production should be done.