Characterization of Wood Degrading Fungi and Their Pectinase Activities in Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State-Nigeria

Background and Objective: Fungi are ubiquitous and widely distributed in nature. Some benefit humans and others play a crucial role in recycling carbon and nitrogen by breaking down plants and natural wastes. However, some fungi cause wood to deteriorate in various environments, leading to significant economic losses. This study aimed to isolate, characterize and determine the pectinolytic activity of fungi associated with wood degradation in the Take-Off Campus, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Twenty degraded woody samples were collected from five locations within the Take-Off campus, Federal University Dutsin-Ma. The 1 g was weighed from each sample, serially diluted and aseptically plated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The inoculated plates were then incubated at 28 C for 72 hrs. Pure fungal isolates were examined macroscopically and viewed microscopically to identify the recovered fungal spores. After this, the respective fungal spores were inoculated and incubated at 28°C for 120 hrs in a basal medium to assay for pectinase production. The concentration of reducing sugars in the mixtures was determined using a UV-visible spectrophotometer at OD₅₄₀. Results: Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes were the predominant lignicolous fungi associated with wood decay in this study. Aspergillus niger had the highest frequency of occurrence (50%) and the highest dry weight of 0.08 g/mL. However, Aspergillus fumigatus produced the highest concentration of reducing sugar (0.05 g/mL) in the basal medium among the three species of Aspergillus assayed for the production of pectinase in the study. Conclusion: The study provided insights into the types of fungi that cause the deterioration of woody materials in Federal University Dutsin-Ma (Take-Off Campus) and their pectinolytic activities. This can help develop effective preservation strategies for wood and wooden materials in the study locality and may open up new ideas for further research in this field.