EFFECT OF SOME AGRO-INDUSTRIAL RESIDUES ON MYCELIAL GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF LIGNOCELLULOLYTIC ENZYMES BY A FUNGUS NATIVE TO ALGERIAN FOREST

Valorization of agricultural and agro-food by-products by fermentation constitutes a very interesting biotechnological approach for the production of lignocellulolytic enzymes. This work was carried out to reveal the effect of some lignocellulosic materials on the mycelial growth and lignocellulolytic enzymes production by Bjerkandera adusta BRFM 1916. The strain showed ABTS- and guaiacol- oxidation activities. The optimal temperature for mycelial growth was 28 degrees C. The maximum growth rate of this fungus was achieved on wheat bran (2.08 +/- 0.05 cm day-1), followed by barley bran, with a significant reduction of 6.73%. Several agricultural lignocellulosic residues were used as substrates for enzymes production. All the data indicated differential utilization of the various materials by the fungus. The selected fungus produced good CMCase (690 +/- 0.066 UL-1) and beta-Glu (253 UL-1) activities on wheat bran and orange peels, respectively. A high level of MnP activity (449.21 +/- 3.44 UL-1) was obtained on wheat bran.