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Amylase and cellulase activities of thermophilic fungi causing deterioration of tobacco products in Nigeria

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Abstract

The conditions necessary for the production and activities of extracellular enzymes of thermophilic fungi obtained from tobacco products were determined. While amylases were produced in extractable amounts by all the fungi used in this study, extracellular cellulases were produced only by Chaetomium thermophile La Touche, Humicola insolens Cooney and Emerson, Malbranchea pulchella Sacc. et Penzig var. sulfurea (Miehe) Cooney and Emerson, and Mucor pusillus Lindt. A narrow range of pH 6–7 was best for the activities of the amylases of all the fungi used while a lower range of pH 5–6 was optimal for their cellulase activities. Peak activities were recorded for both enzymes at a temperature range of 45 °–50 °C. The possible use of the exo-enzymes of these fungi in industrial fermentation processes is suggested.

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Ogundero, V.W. Amylase and cellulase activities of thermophilic fungi causing deterioration of tobacco products in Nigeria. Mycopathologia 69, 131–135 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00452823

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