article · AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
Cultivating the fungi Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata on lignocellulose waste provides an effective route to producing lignin-degrading enzymes. An investigation into the role of specific metal ions revealed that manganese and calcium ions significantly stimulate fungal growth and mycelial extension. Furthermore, introducing manganese and calcium ions at concentrations between 20 and 80 millimolar boosted ligninase enzyme production by two to twelve times compared to baseline conditions. In contrast, magnesium and potassium ions failed to stimulate fungal growth or mycelial extension, leading instead to the deactivation of the fungal cultures after six days of cultivation. These findings demonstrate how specific mineral cofactors regulate both vegetative development and enzyme yields in these basidiomycete species when grown on agricultural and forestry waste.
Lignin-degrading enzymes are valuable biological catalysts used to break down tough plant materials. Understanding how common metal ions control fungal growth and maximise enzyme output allows for more efficient bioprocessing. Using agricultural lignocellulose waste as a growth medium also supports more sustainable resource management by turning organic residues into useful industrial enzymes.
The abstract highlights potential applications for these lignin-degrading enzymes across the wood and pulp, textile, tanning, and oil industries. Potential users include industrial bioprocessors seeking enhanced enzyme production from low-cost lignocellulosic feedstocks. This research represents early-stage laboratory work, demonstrating that manganese and calcium supplementation increases enzyme yields, though further scaling, optimisation, and process validation would be needed before commercial deployment.
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The influence of metal ions on the production and regulation of ligninase and mycelia extension of two type Basidiomycetes (Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata) cultivated on lignocellulose waste was investigated. Mn2+ and Ca2+ions stimulated growth of both fungi and mycelia extension significantly. Ligninase production increased two to twelve fold under the influence of Mn2+ and Ca2+ ions at concentrations of 20 to 80 mM. Mg2+ and K+ ions did not stimulate growth and extension of fungal mycelia, rather fungal cultures became deactivated after six days. The importance of mycelia extension and enhanced enzyme production has biotechnological applications in wood and pulp, textile and tanning, as well as in oil industries. Key words: Basidiomycetes, Lentinus squarrosulus, Psathyrella atroumbonata, ligninase, cofactors.
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DOI: 10.5897/ajb2003.000-1089
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