Aiming at contributing to technological improvements in plant fiber processing methods, this paper reports research work on the obtainment of more efficient pectinase-producing fungi strains. More specifically, this work reports the analysis of 18 strains of filamentous fungi, with the purpose of obtaining enzymes for textile fibers degumming. The strains were evaluated for production of pectinolytic enzymes under several growth conditions (culture medium and growth temperature). Production of pectinases was measured by an enzymatic index (EI) in solid pectin medium. Among the tested strains, Penicillium chrysogenum IFO 4626 (Q 176) showed the best performance. Genetic improvement of this strain was carried out to increase its pectinase production, while... |