Cellulolytic soil microfungi from a secondary forest in Mt. Makiling.

Date

4-2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Virginia C. Cuevas

Abstract

NATIVIDAD, JOANNA T. April 2012. Cellulolytic Soil Microfungi froma Secondary forest in Mt. Makiling College of Arts and Sciences. University of the Philippines Los Banos. Bachelor of Science in Biology major in Ecology. Major Adviser: Dr. Virginia C. Cuevas A study was conducted to identify soil microfungi from a secondary forest in Mt Makiling involved in cellulose decomposition. Forty six isolates were grown in mineral medium with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as sole carbon source. Cellulose degrading ability was determined by comparing the amount of cellulase released in the medium with filter paper (FP) as sole carbon source with the amount released using a commercial cellulase enzyme preparation from Mchoderma sp. Amount of reducing sugars from the filter paper degradation was verified. Of the 46 isolates, nine were found to be CMC degraders, with five established as active degraders of native cellulose as indicated by the presence of cellulase in the growth medium. Presence of reducing sugars was confirmed in three other isolates but no cellulase was detected Of the five native cellulose degraders, three were sterile mycelia -two white and one yellow Two isolates which produced the highest amount of cellulase were identified to be species of the genus Humicola. One of the Humicola sp. produced the highest amount of biomass in CMC and FP mineral media. These Humicola species did not leave reducing sugars in the culture medium from FP degradation The sugars may have been used by the organisms for their growth.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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