Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 7 1 2020 06 01 Screening of fungal strains isolated from dead insects for production of plant litter-degrading enzymes 155 161 123124 10.22092/mi.2020.123124 EN A. Armand Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran S.A. Khodaparast Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran H. Masigol Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran H. P. Grossart Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Stechlin, Germany Journal Article 2019 12 26 Exploring the enzymatic capabilities of fungi is of great importance to better understand their ecological roles and improving their manifold usage in industry. Therefore, rapid and reliable screening methods to evaluate fungal enzymatic potentials are needed. In this study, 76 fungal strains were isolated and identified from insect pests from citrus plantations in Guilan province, northern Iran. All the strains belonged to Akanthomyces and Lecanicillium (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). Plate assay methods were applied to investigate fungal ability to produce the following enzymes: Endo-1,4-β-glucanase (CM-cellulase, endoglucanase and endocellulase), β-Glucosidase, Cellobiodydrolase, pectinase and laccase. The results showed that the majority of the strains were able to produce at least one of these enzymes. The cellulolytic activity was found in 33 % and laccase activity was detected in 11 % of all strains tested. Interestingly, the enzymatic ability of strains identified as A. muscarius and A. lecanii, were generally different, likely confirming their taxonomic position.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_123124_7f1fdef397951c761be37b1dd3f99024.pdf