Screening of Amazon fungi for the production of hydrolytic enzymes

The use of fungi for the production of enzymes has been widely investigated, but there are few reports concerning the use of these organisms isolated from the Amazon Region for the production of hydrolytic enzymes. Considering the importance of hydrolases for different industrial applications, this work aimed to select Amazon fungi for the production of cellulase, protease, pectinase, amylase and xylanase. In order to verify the potential of the Amazon isolates for the production of these five hydrolytic enzymes, growth on solid media containing specific substrates was performed. The qualitative assay revealed that among 40 Amazon fungi, 16 produce cellulase; 13 present proteolytic activity; 13 have pectinase activity, 27 produce amylase and 16 present xylanolyitc activity. Two amylase producers were grown in liquid media in order to access their amylolytic activity. Fungi isolated from aloe vera presented higher amylase production within 48 h of cultivation on potato starch broth.