Title: Effective utilization of an aquatic weed Salvinia molesta as a substarte for the production of Cellulase Enzyme – Eradication through utilization
Abstract: Most of the freshwater systems in our country are infested with one kind of aquatic weed or the other causing serious environmental problems. All efforts to control the growth and spread of these weeds have failed miserably and hence the concept of eradication through utilization is being adopted by many researchers. Cellulases are a group of hydrolytic enzymes capable of hydrolyzing the most abundant organic polymer i.e. cellulose to smaller sugar components including glucose subunits. The high cost of production of cellulase enzymes has hindered the industrial application of cellulose bioconversion. Production cost of Cellulases may be brought down by multifaceted approaches which include the use of cheap lignocellulosic substrates for fermentation production of the enzyme, the use of costefficient fermentation strategies and the optimization of the key factors of the fermentation process. This study is conducted to produce cellulase by wild type Pseudomonas strain, using Salvinia molesta an aquatic weed as substrate. About twenty five bacteria were isolated from decayed Salvinia waste. It was found that three isolates showed significant positive results with clear zone around the cultures. According to the morphological studies and stainingtechniques two isolates were found to be the genus of Bacillus and Pseudomonas. The highest crude enzyme production was observed at pH 7 and temperature of 50°C in a medium that was supplemented with Salvinia molesta as carbon source using Pseudomonas strain. [Rahna. K. Rathnan, Sangeetha Gopal, Mariya Thomas, Seby Antony, Celine Thomas & Ambili Mechoor (2012). Effective utilization of an aquatic weed Salvinia Molesta as a substarte for the production of Cellulase Enzyme –Eradication through utilization. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(1), 36-42. doi:10.6088/ijes.2012030131005] [A farmer is going to apply herbicide (without protective mask, clothes and gloves) against Salvinia molesta in Vemband lake, Kerala, South India (Photo credit: Sylas V.P.)] ${imageDescription} Comment