Aeromycoflora: A Source of Novel Enzyme of Industrial Importance

The present study focuses on the isolation and screening of Aeromycoflora fungi for their potential to produce industrially significant enzymes such as amylase, cellulase, and xylanase. Airborne fungal samples were collected using the gravity plate method on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and incubated under optimal conditions. A total of 10 isolates were obtained and screened qualitatively for enzyme production. The ability of the isolates to produce amylase, cellulase, and xylanase was assessed using starch agar, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar, and Xylan agar plates, respectively. Zones of hydrolysis were observed around colonies after specific staining, confirming enzyme activity. Quantitative enzyme assays were performed using the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method to measure the reducing sugars released during substrate hydrolysis. Several isolates demonstrated significant enzyme activities, with maximum amylase, cellulase, and xylanase production observed in specific fungal isolates, e.g., Aspergillus sp under optimized conditions. These findings highlight the potential of Aeromycoflora fungi as a valuable source of novel enzymes of industrial importance. Further studies on scale-up and process optimization can enable the development of efficient biotechnological applications.