Production of Exopolysaccharide from Local Fungal Isolate

Abstract

The study investigated in isolation of 26 fungal isolates belonging to 6 different genera viz., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp. , Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., , Rhizopus sp. and Phoma sp. Were screened for exopolysaccharide production. Glucose in culture media was studied to select the medium that gives a maximum production of exopolysaccharide by Penicillium sp., Exopolysaccharide was isolated by ethanol precipitation. The medium which contains glucose had been selected to get the heights production of exopolysaccharide . Fermentation conditions were further investigated to optimize exopolysaccharide production by Penicillium sp. , The optimum substitution ratio, temperatures, pH and incubation periods for the maximum production of the polysaccharide were 100% , 30 ˚C , pH 5 and 9 days respectively. Characteristic of exopolysaccharide compounds were observed in the FTIR spectrum. Thin layer chromatography of the hydrolyzed polysaccharide showed that the exopolysaccharide production was heteropolysaccharide consists of galactose, glucose and mannose.