EXTRACELLULAR COLD ACTIVE ENDOGLUCANASE AND PIGMENT PRODUCING PSYCHROTOLERANT PENICILLIUM PINOPHILUM

Objective: The objective of the present study was on Penicillium pinophilum strain F2 from soil samples of Jammu city having the potentiality to produce alkaline cold active endoglucanase and pigment. Methods: Penicillium pinophilum strain F2, a psychrotolerant micro-fungus was isolated from soil of Jammu city, India by taking Czapek’s Dox agar incubated at 15 °C. The strain was screened for production of cold active enzymes by taking various substrates at 15 °C. Final production was done for cold active endoglucanase by using sugarcane bagasse and ground nut shell as substrates. Besides, the strain was also able to produce red color pigment at a low temperature which was further studied to optimize its production by changing pH and growth medium. The produced pigment was used for dyeing of wool and silk, and absorption percentages were also calculated. Results: Screening for the production of cold active enzymes revealed it as a good producer of cellulose followed by lipase and amylase. Endoglucanase production revealed the total enzyme titer (total enzyme activity) was found to be 5.032 folds higher in sugarcane bagasse (38.91 units) than groundnut shell (7.732 units). Endoglucanase activity was maximum 9.82±0.33 units/ml and 2.29±0.31 units/ml after 120 h of incubation at 15 °C by sugarcane bagasse and groundnut shells, respectively. Red color pigment production was maxima at pH 5 in Czapek’s Dox broth. Maximum absorption percentage was seen by the treatment soaked with mordant, i.e. 5% CuSO 4 (51.52%) and without a mordant, it showed about 45.54%. Conclusion: Due to the above unique features and capability to produce cold active endoglucanase and pigment by strain F2, can be used significantly in various industries.