Production of lignocellulolytic enzymes and enhancement of in vitro digestibility during solid state fermentation of wheat straw by Phlebia floridensis

Degradation by white rot fungi has the potential to increase digestibility of wheat straw and thus improve its value as animal feed. To optimize conditions for production of lignocellulolytic enzymes by Phlebia floridensis during solid state fermentation of wheat straw along with enhancement of in vitro digestibility, a response surface methodology (RSM) based experiment was designed. Effect of moisture content, inorganic nitrogen source (NH4Cl) and malt extract on lignocellulolytic enzymes, changes in chemical constituents and digestibility of wheat straw was evaluated. With increase in moisture content, laccase production increased up to 34-fold, while Manganese peroxidase was optimally produced in the presence of almost equal amount (50–55 mg/g of WS) of NH4Cl and malt extract. These supplements also significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the production of CMCase and xylanase. In vitro digestibility was increased by almost 50% with a loss of 27.6% and 14.6% in lignin and total organic matter, respectively. The present findings revealed P. floridensis to be an efficient organism for lignocellulolytic enzymes production and simultaneous enhancement in in vitro digestibility of wheat straw.