Enzymes of Aspergillus japonicus and Aspergillus carbonarius harbouring decayed banana: A comparative profiling

Abstract

The study explores the extracellular enzyme profiles of two fungi—Aspergillus japonicus and Aspergillus carbonarius—recovered from decayed banana peel. The strains demonstrated the ability to secrete hydrolytic enzymes such as pectinase, cellulase, lipase, catalase, protease, and L-asparaginase in plate assays. Enzymes were assessed qualitatively through halo zone formation and quantitatively under submerged fermentation conditions. The experiments revealed distinct enzyme patterns between the two species. A. japonicus exhibited elevated pectinase, protease, and L-asparaginase activity, whereas A. carbonarius showed enhanced levels of lipases and cellulases. These differences point to species-specific metabolic potentials, suggesting targeted applications in biotechnological applications such as biomass conversion, pharmaceutical enzyme production, and food processing.