S.G. Barman and V. Shanthi
Abstract
The growing demand for industrial enzymes has directed significant attention toward microbial sources capable of producing high-value biocatalysts such as ?-fructofuranosidase, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose. Importantly, ?-fructofuranosidase plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a class of prebiotic compounds that selectively stimulate beneficial gut microbiota, thereby promoting host health. The enzymeâs transfructosylation activity enables the production of FOS from sucrose, linking microbial enzyme activity directly to the generation of functional prebiotic ingredients with significant nutritional and therapeutic value. Fungi are recognized as efficient producers of extracellular enzymes due to their robust metabolic versatility and adaptability to diverse environments. The present study is aimed at isolation and screening of indigenous filamentous fungi for their abilities to produce ?-fructofuranosidase. Prospective soil samples collected from sugarcane bagasse dumping sites, a substrate-rich environment presumed to harbour enzyme-producing microbes were obtained to isolate and screen for potent ?-fructofuranosidase producers. A total of forty fungal isolates were isolated using standard serial dilution and plating techniques when grown on basal culture medium at 30 °C for 96 hours. Preliminary screening of all isolates for their ?-fructofuranosidase activity was based on the ability of the isolate to reduce 1,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC); a soluble colorless substance to pink colored complex. Among all the tested isolates Aspergillus sp. exhibited the highest ?-fructofuranosidase activity. These outcomes suggest a wide variation in enzyme production among the fungal strains. The high invertase producing isolates currently under further investigation to explore its biotechnological potential in industrial applications.