Lignolytic enzymes of Calocybe indica.

Calocybe indica which is gaining popularity in the tropical parts of India and cultivated round the year while in subtropical parts it is preferred during summer seasons. The fruiting temperature requirement is from 28 0 C to 35 0 C. It is cultivated on wheat or paddy straw after chemical sterilization, hot water treatment or on pasteurized straw. The mycelial growth and fruiting takes place at higher temperature than the other cultivated mushroom like white button mushroom, shiitake mushroom or oyster mushroom. The lignocellulolytic enzymes responsible for growth on substrate and secretion of enzymes at higher temperatures of C. indica have not been thoroughly studied. So studies were undertaken to estimate influence of temperature on biomass production, changes in pH, total protein production, laccase activity, tyrosinase activity, aryl alcohol oxidase (AAO), manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP) and versatile peroxidase (VP) on wheat straw medium, saborauds medium and modified Czapek dox medium (10g/l glucose) after 6, 12, 18, 24 days. It was interesting to record that C. indica produced Versatile peroxidase on all three culture medium and maximum quantity was recorded on wheat straw media after 12 days at 35 0 C. Maximum protein was recorded on straw medium and least in Czapek dox medium. Wheat straw medium produced maximum laccase after 24 days at 30 0 C (187.38 u/ml) followed by 35 0 C and 25 0 C. Maximum biomass was recorded on saborauds medium at 300 0 C and 350 0 C after 24 days followed by wheat straw and Czapek dox medium. This is the first report of versatile peroxidase in C. indica in addition to Pleurotus eryngii, P. pulmonarius, P .ostreatus, Bjerkandera adusta and Bjerkandera sp. In all Pleurotus spp and Bjerkandera the production of VP is stimulated under peptone containing media. In the present case the wheat straw produced maximum VP followed by Sabourauds medium (peptone containing medium) and least in Czapeck dox medium.