Influence of Light-Mediation on Fungal Growth and Production of Beneficial Enzymes 

Influence of Light-Mediation on Fungal Growth and Production of Beneficial Enzymes 

Peck-Ting Gan and Adeline Su-Yien Ting*

School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia

*Email: adeline.ting@monash.edu

The influence of light regulation on three fungal isolates (Pseudopestalotiopsis theae (EF13), Fusarium solani (EF5) and Xylaria venustula (PH22)) were examined based on their growth and enzyme production. Light treatments implemented were blue, red, green, yellow, white fluorescent light (12 h light/12 h dark photoperiod) and 24 h dark (control) conditions. Results revealed that any form of light treatment was able to promote growth compared to incubation in the dark. Yellow light was most beneficial to induce growth with higher biomass in all isolates (0.07-0.19 g), while red light induced sporulation successfully. For production of enzymes, various light enhanced production of different enzymes when compared to white light and dark conditions. Blue light induced higher amylase production in PH22 (15.31 ± 0.45 U/mL) and the production of L-asparaginase in all isolates (0.38-0.55 U/mL, for EF13, PH22 and EF5, respectively). Production of xylanase and cellulase were induced by green light with production as high as 6.57-10.64 U/mL and 6.49-9.57 U/mL, respectively, for all isolates. In contrast, red light was the least effective light treatment as lower levels of amylase, cellulase, xylanase and L-asparaginase were detected. In short, fungal isolates are light-responsive, with growth regulated by red and yellow light, while blue and green light can be used to manipulate production of beneficial enzymes.