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Comparative degradation of
sawdust by microorganisms isolated from it
J. A. Lennox1*, C. Abriba1, Bello
N. Alabi1 and F. C. Akubuenyi2
1Department
of Microbiology, University of Calabar, Calabar,
Cross River State, Nigeria.
2Department
of Biological Sciences, Cross River State, University of
Science and Technology, Calabar,
Cross River State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
josyl2k@yahoo.com.
Accepted 22 June, 2010 |
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Microorganisms isolated from sawdust have been demonstrated
to be effective in its degradation. Eight bacteria and eight
fungi were isolated from wet decaying sawdust. These were
tested for their capability to degrade sawdust. Among the
bacteria, Cellulomonas sp. was found to be the most
effective degrading agent based on its high percentage
degradation (18.3%). This was followed by Micrococcus
sp. (16.0%) and Pseudomonas sp. (14.6%), Cytophaga
sp. and Bacillus sp. had the lowest percentage
degradation of 0.2 and 7.7%, respectively. The fungi,
Penicillium sp. had the highest percentage degradation
of 14.3%, followed by Mucor sp. (13.3%) and
Trichoderma sp. (9.5%). Asp. ergillus sp.
and Absidia sp. had the lowest percentage degradation
of 4.3 and 6.5%, respectively. This report shows that
indigenous microorganisms possess the capacity to degrade
sawdust.
Key words:
Degradation, sawdust, utilizing, autochthonous
microorganisms. |
