Abstract
Microorganisms including bacteria and fungi produce enzymes that are used in various industrial processes. In this work, we set out to identify the enzymes produced by compost associated bacterial and fungal species and then assessed their enzymatic activities. Several bacterial and fungus species were isolated from compost samples. We found that 33 fungi and 7 bacterial species exhibited amylase activity. We have identified Aspergillus floccosus, Aspergillus rugulosus, Emericella nidulans and Mucor fragilis as the novel source for amylase activity. Similarly, 40 fungi and 6 bacteria showed cellulase activity. In addition, we have identified Annelophora africana, Aspergillus floccosus, Haplotrichum croceum, Trichoderma virens and Micrococcus varians as the novel source for cellulase enzymes. Our analysis also identified 17 fungal and 7 bacterial species that produce chitinase whereas 20 fungal and 5 bacterial species produce pectinase. Here, Aspergillus rugulosus and Micrococcus varians are identified as novel source of pectinase enzymes. Furthermore, 27 fungal and 6 bacterial species have shown protease activity. We suggest that enzymes produced by indigenous microorganisms identified in this study have great commercial potential.
