@article {Murthy:2011:2164-6627:176,
	author = "Murthy, G. Panduranga",
	title = "Effective Degradation of Coir Industry Wastes Through Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum Fungal Organisms",
	journal = "Advanced Science, Engineering and Medicine",
	volume = "3",
	number = "3",
	year = "2011",
	abstract = "'Coir pith' is an agro industrial by-product. This spongy cork like material when left to itself is normally resistant to biodegradation. Extraction of 1 kg Coir fiber generates 2 kg of coir pith. It was estimated that in India, about 5,00,000 MT of Coir pith is produces per annum. Chemically, Coir pith is a lignocelluloses agro residue, which is produced in enormous quantities as a byproduct in coir industries. In southern part of Karnataka, a survey was conducted at Arasikere taluk of Hassan district, Chikkanayakana halli, Tiptur and Gubbi taluks of Tumkur district, to study the Coir pith problems. It was found that, the disposal of coir waste is a huge problem. Dumping of Coir, produces dust particles and other wastes leading to serious public health hazards. The surrounding environment would also become highly polluted. It has been noticed that, the problem is mainly due to delay in biological degradation. <I>In vitro</I> degradation of Coir industry wastes was studied using two saprophytic fungi, <I>Aspergillus flavus</I> and <I>Fusarium oxysporium</I>. The Coir waste which was used along with saw dust was subjected for degradation by solid-state fermentation. <I>Aspergillus flavus</I> and <I>Fusarium oxysporium</I> were inoculated into the media and was incubated for a period of 45 days. After degradation, the activity of extra cellular enzymes, viz., Cellulase, Pectinase, and Ligninase were estimated. The results revealed that, those strains were successful in degrading the substrate effectively. The optimum degradation was noticed at the temperature 50 &#176;C and pH-9. Similarly at varying Temperatures, the degradation ratio considerably decreased. In comparison with fungi, significant degradation of coir waste was found with <I>Aspergillus flavus</I>. The most effective degradation was achieved with the in-combination of fungi, <I>Aspergillus flavus</I> and <I>Fusarium oxysporum</I>.",
	pages = "176-182",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asp/asem/2011/00000003/00000003/art00002",
	doi = "doi:10.1166/asem.2011.1107",
	keyword = "COIR INDUSTRY WASTE, DEGRADATION, ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS, FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM, ENVIRONMENTAL WASTES MANAGEMENT"
}