Impact of Some Hafr Al-Batin Ligno-cellulosic Natural Resources: Characterization, Evaluation and Enzymes Production

Abstract

The main idea of this paper is the evaluation of two new flora of wild plants and Date palm fronds collected from Hafr Al-Batin Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia. Chemical properties of macro- and micro-element contents were analyzed for each natural material including, Date palm fronds (Phoenix dactelifera L.) (DPFs), desert grasses of species (Stipa capensis) (DGs), small desert trees of species (Haloxylon persicum) (DTs). Ligno-cellulosic natural resources were analyzed for their suitability as substrates (organic materials) for mushroom mycelium grows and production of the industrially valuable enzymes. Oyster mushroom able to degrade three tested substrates producing the highest levels of lignin-degrading enzyme laccase 182.05 U/ml, 140.38 U/ml, and 41.75 U/ml using DPFs, DGs and DTs respectively, followed by medium activity of xylanase and cellulase enzymes. On the other hand, Chestnut mushroom showed appreciated amount of laccase activity, 59.23 U/ml, 21.54 U/ml, and 43.51U/ml respectively with three materials, and low xylanase and cellulase enzymes activity.

Current results indicated that the lignocellulosic materials DPFs, DGs and DTs have been evaluated for its potential use in lignocellulolytic enzyme production by the good degraders mushrooms. And further studies are needed to demine the suitable conditions for effective mushroom cultivation and lignocellulolytic enzyme production in the industrial scale.