Degradation of mikan (Japanese mandarin orange) peel by a novel Penicillium species with cellulolytic and pectinolytic activity.
OBJECTIVE
The mikan, or Japanese mandarin orange, is a popular fruit in Japan, but its peel is one of the major agricultural wastes. The aims of this study were to screen, isolate, and characterize a mikan peel-degrading microbe.


RESULTS
Several samples including activated sludge, sediment, compost and spoiled mikan peel were collected and cultured in a minimal salt medium containing mikan peel as the sole carbon source. Degradation activity was found in a culture of the spoiled mikan peel, and a fungal strain, designated OP1, with both cellulolytic and pectinolytic activity was isolated. No toxic metabolites, such as mycotoxins, were found in OP1 cultures, as evaluated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A phylogenetic analysis strongly suggested that OP1 is a novel species of the genus Penicillium.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that Penicillium sp. OP1 plays an important role in aerobic microbial degradation of cellulose/pectin-rich biomasses in soil ecology, and further imply that this strain may be useful for both simultaneous cellulase/pectinase production and reduction of agricultural waste.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results advance our understanding of microbial degradation of cellulose/pectin-rich biomasses in the natural environment, and offer a new tool for reduction of agricultural waste, which is important for sustaining circulatory societies.
Fujii
K
K
Department of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, Japan. kfujii@yamaguchi-uac.jp
Shintoh
Y
Y
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D002957:Citrus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010368:Pectins / Q000378:metabolism; D010407:Penicillium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods
D010368:Pectins; D002482:Cellulose