SCREENING OF LIGNIN DEGRADING MICROBES AND THEIR MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

Lignin is found in abundance in nature. It is an aromatic polymer found as a noteworthy part of lignocellulose in plant cell walls and is to a great degree impervious to chemical or any kind of biochemical breakdown. Research on lignin biodegradation has quickened enormously amid the previous 20 years, primarily in view of the significant potential uses of bio-ligninolytic frameworks in pulping, bleaching, changing over lignin to valuable items and treating of horticultural squanders utilizing microbes. Disconnection and distinguishing proof of natural neighbourly bacteria for lignin degradation turns into a fundamental, since all the past information was primarily focused on utilizing white-rot fungi. Be that as it may, bacteria appear to assume a main part in breaking down lignin since wood degenerating bacteria have a more extensive resilience of temperature, pH and oxygen restrictions than fungi. Hence, in this investigation soil and decaying wood samples were gathered from wood industry and utilized for segregation of lignin degenerating microorganisms on the basis of their laccase and lignin peroxidase producing potential. Four bacterial strains were isolated by screening methodology in view of their action on guaiacol and Azure B. Based on lignin degrading enzymatic analyses, four bacterial isolates (two each from decaying wood and soil samples) with high lignin degrading activity were selected and characterized. These isolates were tentatively identified as Serratia spp., Streptococccus spp., Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas spp. Fungal isolates were also partially characterized and identified tentatively as Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp. and Helminthosporium spp.