The areca nut husk constitutes about 60- 80% of the total weight and volume of the fresh fruit. It is a solid residue generated as waste and large quantity is disposed as such. The areca nut husk fibres are predominantly composed of cellulose and hemicelluloses (35-64.8%), lignin (13.0- 26.0%) and pectin. Manganese-dependent peroxidases are a family of extracellular glycosylated haem proteins, which are produced by most litter harbouring fungi. Manganese peroxidase (MnP) was discovered in 1985 by Michael H. Gold and Ronald Crawford in the fungus Phanerochaetechrysosporium. Manganese Peroxidase enzyme catalyse oxidation-reduction reactions and also acts as a chelating agent. The lignocelluloses biomass from areca nut husk (Areca catechu Linnaeus) was evaluated as a new substrate for cultivation of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium verticillioides for manganese peroxidase (MnP) production. Solid state fermentation carried out at different pH showed optimum enzyme production at pH 6.0 for Fusarium oxysporum (54.3±0.50IU/g) and pH 5.0 for Fusarium verticillioides (49.15±0.15 IU/g). Incubation temperature of 300 C and shaking condition was ideal for both the organisms. The study showed that potential soil fungi can be cultured on cost effective substrates such as areca nut husk and can be effectively exploited for the production of Manganese Peroxidase enzyme in large scale.
