Enhanced production of laccase and pectinase using co-culture of Trametes hirsuta and Phanerochaete sp. through EVOP-factorial design technique

The present study deals with the coproduction of laccase and pectinase enzymes through solid state fermentation using mixed fungal culture of Trametes hirsuta and Phanerochaete sp., to minimize the cost and time of the process. Substrates selected for the enzyme production were wheat bran, pulse husk and mustard peel. To get optimum yield of laccase and pectinase in a single fermenter, EVOP factorial design technique with factors like pH, incubation temperature and substrates ratio have been explored. At search level of EVOP, outcomes of the one factor at a time has been considered as incubation temperature 30 °C for 7 days at pH 5 with wheat bran: pulse husk: mustard peel ratio of 2:2:1 (w/w/w) and yield of laccase and pectinase was found as 78.1 U/gds and 105.0 U/gds respectively. In first setup of EVOP factorial both laccase and pectinase activities were not found optimum in same set of experiments; therefore, on the basis of its decision making steps, second set of experiment was performed by taking decisions of first set of EVOP as search level. Optimum yield of laccase and pectinase was achieved about 250 U/gds and 247 U/gds respectively at 34 °C, pH 4.5 with 1.75:1.75:1.5 (w/w/w) wheatbran: pulse husk: mustard peel as substrate, which was 2–3 times higher than the outcomes of one factor at a time method.