UTILIZATION OF PAPER WASTES FOR CELLULOLYTIC ENZYME PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS NIGER STRAIN 13A AND USING THE BIOORGANIC MATERIALS IN THE BIOCONTROL OF FUSARIUM WILT OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS L.)

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is maximizing the utilization of paper waste material and decrease its harmful effect. Eleven fungal isolates were selected and tested to assess their cellulolytic potential. The isolates13A which were isolated from immature compost showed the highest Cellulolytic Index values 0.47 mm. According to the morphological characteristics and the 18S rRNA gene sequence, the isolate13A was identified as Aspergillus niger strain13A. The effect of pH and temperature on growth of Aspergillus niger strain13A and its production of cellulase were investigated, the optimal culture conditions was recorded at pH 6.0 after 6 days of incubation at 35 C. Under optimal conditions various paper waste materials were used for enzyme production under submerged and solid-state fermentation. Maximum production of cellulase by Aspergillus niger strain13A was shown using kraft brown bags and cardboard under solid state fermentation. Aspergillus niger strain13A exhibited also good degradability for a mixture of kraft, cardboard, foolscap and printout paper, under solid state fermentation resulting in the production of bioorganic material. Results of this study showed that treatment of soil with bioorganic materials demnstrarting high effectiveness in controlling Fusarium wilt of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) could be considered as promising alternative to chemical fungicides.