PRODUCTION OF LIGNINOLYTIC ENZYMES DURING SOLID STATE FERMENTATION OF COFFEE PULP BY SELECTED FUNGI

In our study, Pleurotus eous and Chaetomium globosum the peak enzyme values (5.53 IU/ml; 2.6 IU/ml respectively) were observed on the 20 th day, whereas in Ganodermalucidum, the enzyme activity steadily increased till the 30 th day (3.6 IU/ml) followed by a steady decline thereafter. In coculture experiments, the maximum laccase activity (8.8 IU/ml) was shown by Pleurotus flabellatus + Pleurotus eous on the 20 th day of biodegradation. The highest peroxidase enzyme activity was observed in coffee pulp colonized by Phanerochaete chrysosporium monoculture (3.1 IU/ml) on the 30 th day after inoculation followed by Pleurotus flabellatus monoculture which showed the maximum 2.83 IU/ml of peroxidase activity on 40 th day of biodegradation. Aspergillus terreus showed very low peroxidase activity, while peroxidase activity of Chaetomium globosum on 30 th day (2.3 IU/ml) was on par with the 40 th day activity of Fomes badius. Significant increase in peroxidase activity over the respective monocultures was observed in all the white rot + white rot dual culture combinations and in Pleurotus flabellatus + Chaetomium globosum (3.6 IU/ml) dual culture.