Production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes by fungi grown on cactus (nopal) in solid-state fermentation

The main aim of this research was to describe the production of cellulase and xylanase enzymes by Trichoderma harzianum (ascomycete) and Trametes polyzona (basidiomycete) by solid-state fermentation using vegetable nopal and prickly pear paddle as substrates. Enzymatic activities were determined by reducing sugars quantification using the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid method. For T. harzianum, the xylanase enzyme activity increased on vegetable nopal paddle with 2.34 U/g ds (gram of dry sample) on the 5th day of fermentation, while the prickly pear paddle turned out to be a better substrate for the cellulase activity with 0.57 U/g ds at the 3rd. day. For T. polyzona, the activity of both enzymes increased and the highest activity was yield on the 5th day of fermentation on vegetable nopal paddle, with values of 4.38 U/g ds for xylanase and 1.00 U/g ds for cellulase. Thus, it was possible to use this fungus in order to hydrolyze residues of nopal by solid state fermentation.