Evaluating lignocellulosic enzyme activity of termite mound soil from different locations of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Termite soils provide a very distinct ecological environment which harbors and promotes very specialized cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic microorganisms. This specialized flora enables the termites to feed on hardly degradable polymers such as lignocellulose. The cellulase enzymes synthesized by the microorganisms have a crucial role in recycling C and nutrients and maintaining soil fertility in nature. Hence in the present study, termite mound soils were collected from different locations of Tamil Nadu and their lignocellulosic enzyme activity viz., Cellulase, Saccharase and β- glucosidase were assessed to know fertility status of the particular habitats.