Abstract

Seven different strains were selected for their ability to degrade citrus pectin. Alkaline pectinases were produced by five bacterial soil isolates, whereas two fungal strains produced pectinase in an acidic environment. The bacteria were isolated from soil of a plum orchard in Northern Ireland. These isolates produced significant amounts of pectin lyase (PL) and polygalacturonase ( PG) with maximum activities of 30.1 and 29.1 U/ml respectively. Fungal strains Aspergillus sp. and PN-1 produced four different pectinolytic activities; endo-PG, exo-PG, pectin esterase (PE) and PL. The Aspergillus sp. produced higher amounts of pectinase than PN-1. The Aspergillus sp. excreted highly stable pectinases, which may be of importance for industrial applications.