Extracellular Lipase Production by Fungi from Sunflower Seed

Two hundred and twenty-three lyophilized isolates of fungi representing 91 species from sunflower seed were revived and grown in lipase medium with and without emulsified sunflower oil. Lipase production and activity in culture filtrates was assayed by tributyrin agar diffusion and by a sunflower oil-gas chromatographic technique. One hundred and thirty-two isolates produced extracellular lipase in liquid media. Intrageneric and intraspecific variability in lipase production occurred among the isolates. This variability makes the evaluation of several isolates per taxon an important consideration in the evaluation of lipolytic capability of a genus or species. Sunflower oil in the medium either inhibited, stimulated or had no effect on lipase production, depending on the isolate. Culture filtrates of both field and storage fungi produced extracellular lipases which were active against sunflower oil, but generally more activity was observed in storage fungus filtrates than in field fungus filtrates.