Global Journal of Traditional Medicinal Systems Content list available at: http://www.gjtms.info/index.php/gjtms Journal Homepage: http://brnsspublicationhub.org/ GJTMS ISSN- 2319-8761 Global J Trad Med Sys 2014 3(1): 1 - 9 ©2012 BRNSS pub hub. All right reserved Microbial Pectinases: A Review P. Saranraj1* and M.A. Naidu2 1 - Department of Microbiology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram – 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India. 2 – Department of Pharmaceutics, Mandsur Institute of Pharmacy, Mandsur, Madhya Pradesh, India. E- mail: microsaranraj@gmail.com Correspondence to: Dr. P. Saranraj, Department of Microbiology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Received date: 20 – 11 - 13 Accepted date: 05 – 12 - 13 Abstract Pectinases are the groups of enzymes, which cause degradation of pectin that are chain molecules with a rhamnogalacturonan backbone, associated with other polymers and carbohydrates. These pectinases have wide applications in fruit juice industry and wine industry. In fruit juice industry, it is used for clarification, where reduction in viscosity is caused which ultimately leads to formation of clear juice. They increase the yield of juices by enzymatic liquefaction of pulps; these pectinases also helps in formation of pulpy products by macerating the organized tissue into suspension of intact cells. In wine industry pectinases are mainly used for decreasing astringency by solubilizing anthocyanins without leaching out procyadin polyphenols, and pectinases also increase pigmentation by extracting more anthocyanins. The present review paper contains the following topics: Structure and properties of pectin, Pectinolytic microorganisms, Pectic enzymes and classification of pectic enzymes, Production of pectic enzymes, Methods of pectinase enzyme production, Substrates used for pectinase enzyme production, Assay of pectic enzymes, Nutritional factors affecting enzyme production, Environmental factors influencing enzyme production and Industrial application of pectic enzymes. Key words: Pectinases • Pectin • Pectinolytic microorganisms • Fermentation 1. INTRODUCTION Pectinases are group of enzymes that attack pectin and depolymerize it by hydrolysis and transelimination as well as by deesterification reactions, which hydrolyses the ester bond between carboxyl and methyl groups of pectin. These enzymes act on pectin, a class of complex polysaccharides found in the cell wall of higher plants and cementing material for the cellulose network. Pectinases accounts for 10% of global industrial enzymes produced and their market is increasing day by day [1]. Pectinases are classified according to their mode of secretion as extracellular and intracellular pectinases. An extracellular enzyme is excreted (secreted) outside the cell into the medium in which that cell is living. Extracellular enzymes usually convert large substrate molecules (i.e. food for the cell or organism) into smaller molecules that can then be more easily transported into the cell, whereas an intracellular enzyme operates within the confines of the cell membrane. Membrane proteins remain attached in some way to the cell membrane. Both intracellular and extracellular pectinases are classified on the mode of their attack on the galacturonan part of pectin molecules [2]. Pectinases can be produced by both submerged and solid state fermentation (SSF). Submerged fermentation is cultivation of microorganisms on liquid broth. It requires high volumes of water, continuous agitation and generates lot of effluents. SSF incorporates microbial growth and product formation on or within particles of a solid substrate [3] under aerobic conditions, in the absence or near absence of free water, and does not generally require aseptic conditions for enzyme production [4]. 2014|Volume 3|Issue 1|Pg: 1 - 9 Many filamentous fungi like Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori, Penicillium restrictum, Trichoderma viride, Mucor piriformis and Yarrowia lipolytica are used in both submerged as well as solid state fermentation for production of various industrially important products such as citric acid, ethanol, etc. Fungi like Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium expansum, which are Generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by United States Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA) are employed in food industry. Some bacteria (Bacillus licheniformis, Aeromonas cavi, Lactobacillus, etc), yeasts like Saccharomyces, Candida and Actinomycetes like Streptomycetes are also used. Amongst these, the filamentous fungi are most commonly employed [5, 6, 7]. Fungi can produce both intracellular as well as extracellular enzymes. All fungi are hetrotrophic, and rely on carbon compounds synthesized by other living organisms. Small molecules like mono disaccharides fatty acids and amino acids can easily pass through but for breaking down of larger complex compounds like pectin, fungi secrete extra cellular enzymes. It is well known that as compared to intracellular enzymes, the extra cellular enzymes are easier to be extracted. Intracellular enzymes require more time and costly chemicals for extraction. Till date, substrates used for solid - state fermentation are materials of plant origin like grains such as rice, corn, root, tubers and legumes. Apart from these, pomace, mango peels, orange waste like peels and other fruit and vegetable industry waste are also being in much use [8] . 1 Dr. P. Saranraj and M.A. Naidu /Microbial Pectinases: A Review Pectinases are frequently used in fruit and vegetable industry and pectin is also employed widely in food industry. Peel oil finds many useful applications in both food and pharmaceutical industry. It is good for the skin citrus solvent is a biodegradable solvent occurring in nature as the main component of citrus peel oil. Citrus solvents have pleasant aroma, & FDAGRAS rating ("generally recognized as safe") makes it suitable to be used as solvent, citrus solvent can replace a wide variety of products, including mineral spirits, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, toluene, glycol ethers, and of course fluorinated and chlorinated organic solvents. Dietary fibers are the most recent value added product and are used as means of roughage. 2. STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF PECTIN Pectin is a heteropolysaccharide with galacturonic acid and methanol as the main components. The pectic polysaccharide consisted of a traid of polymers: -1, 4. D polygalacturonide, a highly branched L - araban and -1, 4D-galactan. In addition to D - galacturonic acid, the sugars such as L - rhamnose, L - arabinose, D - galactose, D -xylose and L - fructose also present. The carboxylic acid groups of galacturonic acid residues are partially esterifies with methanol and methoxyl content varies with source. When all the carboxyl groups in polygalacturonic acid are esterified, the methoxyl content is 16.32 per cent i.e. the degree of esterification is 100 per cent. Acidic and neutral pectins were carrying ferulic acid on the non reducing ends of the neutral arabinose and or galactose containing domains. The pectins carry approximately one teruloyl residue per 60 sugar residue. These feruloyl pectic acids are involved in the regulation of cell expansion, in disease resistance and in the initiation of lignification. The most important unique physical property of pectins is their ability to form gels with sugar and acids. The maceration of pectic substances with the help of pectinolytic microorganisms attribute to the release of bast fibres from the stem cortex during the retting of flax, jute and other stem fibre crops, freeing of coffee, cocoa, and white pepper seeds from surrounding pulp and mucilage. Forgarty and Kelly [9] reported the presence of pectin in some fruits and vegetables. 3. PECTINOLYTIC MICROORGANISMS Pectins are degraded by number of microorganisms to produce a variety of compounds and enzymes which are involved in many industrial applications. Many pathogenic bacteria and fungi are capable of degrading pectins [10]. 3.1. Pectinolytic Bacteria Elyrod [11] first reported that the bacterium Erwinia sp. can degrade pectin. Zucker et al. [12] and Chatterjee et al. [13] showed the production of inducible and extracellular endopolygalacturonase by Pseudomonas fluorescens and Erwina. Bacteria like Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Micrococcus isolated from retting flax, jute, sisal and coir and Erwinia from coffee fruits have shown to possess the ability to degrade pectin by producing pectinolytic enzymes [14]. Forgarty and Kelly [15] listed many microorganisms that are capable of degrading pectin. McMillan et al. [16]; Heikinheimo et al. [17]; Weber et al. [18] and Liao et al. [19] found that many species of Erwinia, Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas are capable of producing pectinolytic enzymes. The determination to total counts and total pectinolytic counts on pulped fruits indicated that pectinolytic bacteria are the important fraction of the microbial population [20]. The microbial flora of fruit peels consist mostly Enterobacteriaceae particularly the genus Erwinia, which produce pectinolytic enzymes during fermentation. 3.2. Pectinolytic fungi Many fungal species are capable of degrading pectin by producing different pectinolytic enzymes. The fungus, Alternaria sesami produced pectinolytic enzymes viz., polygalacturonase transeliminase, pectin transeliminase and polygalacturonase [21]. Shindia [22] reported that temperature variation during garbage composting led to corresponding changes in the distribution of pectin degrading fungi in the compost and the most common pectinolytic fungi were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium moniliforme, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioids and Trichoderma reesei and these fungi also formed the part of pectinolytic microflora of coffee fruits. 4. PECTIC ENZYMES AND CLASSIFICATION OF PECTIC ENZYMES Pectinase are the group of enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of pectin containing substances. These enzymes are produced by plants and microbes and are not synthesized by animal cells [23]. At present, a majority of commercial enzymes are obtained by employing fungal cultures. Pectic enzymes have been classified based on different criteria [24, 25]. The recent classification of pectinolytic enzymes was based on the method proposed by Fogarty and Kelly [26]. Basically, there exist three types of pectic enzymes viz., pectin esterases, which remove methoxyl residues from pectin, a range of depolymerizing enzymes (pectinase) and protopectinase, which solubilizes protopectin to form pectin [27]. 5. PRODUCTION OF PECTIC ENZYMES During the last decade, world interest on pectic enzymes has increased because of their industrial value, especially in food and fermentation industries. Pectic enzymes account for 10 per cent of the total food enzymes [28] . Its use in the production of clarified fruit and vegetable juices is a common practice in the food industry. The addition of pectinases to the cloudy juice causes a rapid drop in the viscosity as well as in flocculation of the micelles and clear juice can be obtained after filtration. Other industrial uses of pectic enzymes include the extraction of oil, flavours and pigments from plant materials and maceration of vegetables and fruits. Cell free preparation of microbial pectic enzymes and their ability to macerate plant materials was reported by Chesson [29]. Pectinolytic enzymes are produced by number of plants and microorganisms and are not synthesized by animal cells [30]. Fungal sources do provide the largest variety of bulk commercial enzymes and have the widest variety of application, which is well documented by Lowe [31] . The high enzyme production was achieved through strain selection, media development, process development and scale up programmes [32]. 6. METHODS PRODUCTION OF PECTINASE ENZYMES Microbial enzymes are commercially produced either through submerged fermentation (SmF) or solid substrate 2 Dr. P. Saranraj and M.A. Naidu /Microbial Pectinases: A Review fermentation (SSF) techniques. The SmF techniques for enzyme production are generally conducted in stirred tank reactors under aerobic conditions using batch or fed batch systems. High capital investment and energy costs, and the infrastructural requirements for large - scale production make the application of SmF techniques in enzyme production more impractical in a majority of developing country environments. Submerged fermentation is cultivation of microorganisms on liquid broth it requires high volumes of water, continuous agitation and generates lot of effluents. SSF incorporates microbial growth and product formation on or within particles of a solid substrate under aerobic conditions, in the absence or near absence of free water and does not generally require aseptic conditions for enzyme production [33]. For the industrial production of pectinolytic enzymes, it was important to improve the cultural conditions, yielding better production of extracellular enzymes in liquid culture on inexpensive carbon sources [34]. 6.1. Submerged fermentation (SmF) Submerged fermentations (SmF) have the advantages of better opportunities for process control and analysis and the basis for planned experiments to increase fermentation yield through the use of optimized medium [35]. Pectinolytic enzymes on a large scale are produced from species of the genus Aspergillus [36] and Penicillium [37]. 6.2. Solid state fermentation (SSF) Solid state fermentation (SSF) is generally defined as the growth of microorganisms on solid materials in the absence of free water. It has tremendous potential for the production of enzymes [38, 39]. Studies on the production of enzymes by solid state fermentation are increasing because of the potential advantages such as simplicity, high productivity and concentrated products over submerged fermentations [40, 41] . 7. SUBSTRATES PRODUCTION USED FOR PECTINASE Medium require presence of available nutrients and absence of toxic or inhibitory constituent medium carbon, nitrogen, inorganic ions and growth factors are also required. For submerged fermentation, besides carbon source, nitrogen growth factors media requires plenty of water. The most widely used substrate for solid state fermentation for pectinase production are materials of mainly plant origin, which include starchy materials such as grains, rice, corn, roots, tubers and legumes, and cellulosic lignin, proteins, and lipid materials [42] . Agricultural and food processing wastes such as wheat bran, cassava, sugar beet pulp, citrus waste, corn cob, banana waste, saw dust and fruit pomace (apple pomace) are the most commonly used substrates for SSF for pectinase production [43] . 8. MICROORGANISMS INVOLVED IN PECTINASE PRODUCTION Microorganisms are currently the primary source of industrial enzymes: 50% originate from fungi and yeast; 35% from bacteria, while the remaining 15% are either of plant origin. Filamentous microorganisms are most widely used in submerged and solid -state fermentation for pectinase production. Ability of such microbes to colonize the substrate by apical growth and penetration gives them a considerable ecological advantage over non - motile bacteria and yeast, which are less able to multiply and colonize on low moisture substrate [44]. Among filamentous fungi, three classes have gained the most practical importance in SSF; the phycomycetes such as genera Mucor; the ascomycetes genera Aspergillus and basidiomycetes especially the white rot fungi [45] . Bacteria and yeasts usually grow on solid substrates at the 40% to 70% moisture levels. Common bacteria in use are Bacillus licheniformis, Aeromonas cavi, Lactobacillus and common yeasts in use are Saccharomyces and Candida. Pectinase production by Aspergillus strains has been observed to be higher in solid state fermentation than in submerged process [46]. Commercial pectinases are often produced from fungal sources in liquid broths. Aspergillus and Trichoderma are widely used for the enzyme production. Pectinase production has been reported in solid state cultures employing agricultural by products like cassava fibrous waste [47], wheat bran [48], apple pomace [49] and citrus wastes [50] as substrates and these substrates are found to be the best substrates for the SSF process [51]. Trejo Hernanadez et al. [52] compared the pectinase yields and productivity by both techniques suggesting that SSF is more productive than SmF. Aspergillus niger, a filamentous fungus produces several pectinolytic enzymes and are currently used in fruit juice and wine industries [53]. SSF cultures showed higher pectinolytic activities than those obtained by SmF. In SSF, exopectinase activity was maximum, after 72 hours while in SmF, it was delayed further. Pectin lyase production by SmF peaked after 4 days. The comparative ratios of productivities (SSF/SmF) obtained for endo - exopectinase and pectate lyase were 6.51 and 29 respectively showing that, overall the SSF technique is more productive than SmF [54] and the results confirmed the findings of earlier study on pectinase production using the strain Aspergillus niger [55]. Cotty et al. [56] determined the pectinases production by Aspergillus flavus by measuring the clear zones formed around the colonies stained with ruthenium red. Out of 87 isolates tested, 15 produced red zone after staining with dye. Major achievement of this study was to screen out most efficient pectinases producing isolates of Aspergillus niger from the local environment to fulfill the requirement of local demand. Mehta et al. [57] screened one hundred sixty eight bacterial strains, isolated from soil and samples of vegetable in decomposition for the use of citrus pectin as the sole carbon source. Out of 102, 168 were positive for pectinase depolymerization in assay plates as evidenced by clear hydrolization halos. Among them, 30% presented considerable pectinolytic activity. The cultivation of these strains by submerged and semi - solid fermentation for polygalacturonase production indicated that five strains of Bacillus sp. produced high quantities of the enzyme. The physico-chemical characteristics, such as optimum pH of 6.0 to 7.0, optimum temperatures between 45°C and 55ºC, stability at temperatures above 40ºC and in neutral and alkaline pH, were determined. Urmila Phutela et al. [58] isolated thermophilic fungal strain producing both pectinase and polygalacturonase after primary screening of 120 different isolates. The fungus was identified as Aspergillus fumigatus. Using solid state cultivation, the optimum levels of variables for pectinase and polygalacturonase (PG) production were determined. Maximal levels of enzyme activities were achieved upon 3 Dr. P. Saranraj and M.A. Naidu /Microbial Pectinases: A Review growing the culture in a medium containing wheat bran, sucrose, yeast extract and (NH4)2SO4 after 2 - 3 days of incubation at a temperature of 50ºC. Highest enzyme activities of 1116 Ug-1 for pectinase and 1270 Ug-1 for polygalacturonase were obtained at pH 4.0 and 5.0, respectively. 9.2. Lyase enzyme Enzyme activity of lyases can be measured by following the increased absorption of the digest at 560 nm wavelengths. Because of its simplicity, the assay procedure is widely and routinely used to assay polygalacturonate lyase and polymethyl galacturonate lyase [68]. Chawanit Sittidilokratna et al. [59] carried out the screening of pectinase producing bacteria and assessment of the effectiveness for biopulping of paper mulberry bark of the pectinase of the highest producer. Pectinolytic bacteria were initially screened from 6 identified and 118 unknown isolates. Twelve strains gave positive results, including 3 of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, 2 of Erwinia chrysanthemi and 7 of Bacillus sp. Crude pectinases were prepared from the selected strains. Then, the activity of 3 pectinase types, namely polygalacturonase (PG), pectate lyase (PAL) and pectin lyase (PL) was investigated. The results showed the highest PG production from Erwinia chrysanthemi strain N05 isolated from onion and highest PAL and PL production from Bacillus sp. strain N10 isolated from paper mulberry bark. Both, N05 and N10 possess similar optimum conditions at pH 10.0 and 35ºC, and were stable at pH 3 - 12 for 30 minutes and 20 - 40ºC for 24 hours. 10. NUTRITIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING ENZYME PRODUCTION Abdul Hannan et al. [60] performed a multistep evaluation of 52 strains of Aspergillus niger on the basis of polygalacturonase production. Plate method was employed for preliminary screening of isolates. The strains exhibiting relative clear zone with diameter above 1.386 were selected for final screening. Out of 52 strains, 23 were selected for further screening by using optimized enzyme assay method. The enzyme production by 23 selected strains was studied in submerged fermentation with pectin as the only carbon source. Maximum activity was observed in two isolates of Aspergillus niger (H12 and H51) showing more than 0.700 units after 96 hrs incubation period. Only four isolates (H06, H13, H45, and H46) gave the maximum activities after incubation for 72 hours whereas decline was observed at 96 hrs. Lali Kutateladze et al. [61] investigated the physiology and some biochemical characteristics of the selected strains. The nutrient media for each particular strain was optimized and conditions of growth were established. The strain Penicillium canescens I-85 reveals the highest pectinase activity at 27ºC and pH 4.0; the strain Aspergillus niger at 40ºC, pH 6; Trichoderma viride Ts-2 at 30ºC, pH 7.5. As a result of optimization of the Nutrient media the activity of pectinase increased by 122, 28 and 98%, respectively. 9. ASSAY OF PECTIC ENZYMES Assay method for the detection and measurement of pectinolytic activity ranged from pure qualitative methods [62] for demonstrating the presence of enzymes activity to quantitative methods [63, 64], which determine the activity in terms of actual linkages hydrolyzed. 9.1. Pectic esterase The most common method for determining pectin esterase activity is the titrimetric method of estimation of carboxyl groups formed in pectin by the enzyme [65, 66]. Pectin esterase can also be assayed by measuring the methanol liberated from pectin during the reaction. Zhao et al. [67] have described a simple spectrometric method for the estimation of methanol released from pectin. Tuttobello and Mill [69] reported that the high enzyme yields were obtained in a medium of groundnut flour with 2 per cent sucrose and 2 per cent pectin. Moran and Starr [70] reported that Erwinia carotovora and Erwinia aroideae were constitutive with respect to endopolygalacturonate lyase synthesis. In batch fermentation, the differential rate of enzyme formation was low with glucose, medium with glycerol and high with pectate as the sole carbon and energy source and it was concluded that enzymes production is under catabolism repression control. The use of complex substances like citrus peel or other agricultural wastes is common, since these materials are natural substrates for pectinolytic enzymes [71, 72]. These substance and their degradation products are inducers for the enzyme synthesis, e.g., Galacturonic acid and pectic acid [73] as well as polygalacturonic acid and pectin itself [74]. Ward and Fogarty [75] stated that glucose is the most suitable carbon source for the production of the polygalacturonate lyase from Bacillus subtilis and sodium polypectate was the best inducer of polygalacturonate lyase with Flavobacterium pectinovorum. Bateman [76] showed that the pectic acid or sodium polypectate was found to be a better substrate for the polygalacturonase production than pectin. Kunte and Shastri [77] reported that the maximum production of polygalacturonase and polymethgalacturonasel took place in a medium containing 0.5 per cent pectin and 0.5 per cent cellulose powder. Maximum production of PG occurred after 4 days and the optimum incubation period for the production of pectinolytic enzymes vary from strain to strain and species to species. Foda et al. [78] reported that for maximum pectinolytic enzyme production, Asperillus aculeatus and Mucor pusillu fungi require pectin as carbon source. Murad and Foda [79] found that supplementation of permeate with yeast extract or peptone resulted in marked increase in the enzyme activity as compared to the control permeate medium. Garzon and Hours [80] stated that by using Aspergillus foetidus, pectinase with an activity of 1600 - 1700 Ug-1 after 36 hrs of culture can be obtained from citrus waste supplemented with yeast extract and mineral salts. Pectinase produced by SmF with Aspergillus and Fusarium was induced by pectin and its derivatives [81]. Sara et al. [82] reported that under solid state fermentation exo and endo pectinase activities of Aspergillus niger increased with increase in the concentration of carbon source. She also found that under SmF, the exo and endo pectinase activities by Aspergillus niger sharply decreased when glucose or sucrose (3 per cent) was added to the pectin containing culture medium. Bahkali [83] reported that the fungus Verticillium tricorpus exhibited maximum activity of polygalcturonase enzyme in medium containing pectin as substrate. He reported 4 Dr. P. Saranraj and M.A. Naidu /Microbial Pectinases: A Review that pectin is the best substrate for the production of polygalacturonase. 12. INDUSTRIAL ENZYMES Gupta et al. [84] reported that sugar beet shreds and apple pomace produced higher polygalacturonase activity under semi solid conditions and the raw onion and citrus peel proved better under stationary condition. Isshiki et al. [85] reported that Alternaria alternata (AG 325) produced polygalacturonase in liquid medium containing one percent pectin. Increased synthesis of polygalactuonase was also recorded with the addition of five percent of sucrose to the culture medium. Application of enzymes in biotechnological process has expanded considerably in recent years. In food and related industry, major importance was being attached to the use of enzymes in upgrading quality, increasing yields of extractive processes, product stabilization, and improvement of flavour and by product utilization [95]. 11. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING ENZYME PRODUCTION In order to optimize enzyme production, parameters affecting the enzyme synthesis have to be standardized. Although, optimum conditions may vary for each organism and enzyme certain factors have been established as the most significant in influencing overall enzyme yield [86]. The critical factor for fungal growth on solid surface is moisture. The control of moisture level within a relatively narrow range was essential for optimizing solid state fermentation. Many microorganisms can grow in solid substrate but only filamentous fungi can grow in the absence of free water. A properly moistened substrate would have a surface film of water to facilitate dissolution and mass transfer of nutrients and oxygen, but antiparticle channels would be left free to permit oxygen diffusion and heat dissipation [87]. Norkrans and Hammarstrom [88] found that Rihizinia maculata produced polygalacturonase optimally at a pH range of 3 - 4 and the activity dropped to 50 percent at the pH range 5 - 6. Foda et al. [89] reported that the optimum pH value for enzyme production were 4 - 5 and 4 - 6 for Aspergillus aculeatus and Mucor pusillus, respectively and both these organisms require pectin as carbon source. Moran and Starr [90] indicated that polygalacturonase secretion was maximum at pH 4 - 5 in the case of Fusarium oxysporum. Hours et al. [91] found the highest pectinolytic activity from apple pomace at pH 4.0 and maximum saccharification of sugar beet pulp was found at pH 4.8 [92]. The biggest obstacle to scale up the SSF process is heat build-up. This causes evaporative water loss and stops vegetative growth. On the other hand, a controlled evaporation with continuous water replacement may promote heat dissipation and assures productive vegetative growth. Pectinolytic activities of Aspergillus niger produced in SSF are more stable than those produced in SmF. Maximum endo polygalacturonase activity in SSF was reported at 60C [93]. They also reported that exopectinase activity obtained in SmF. According to Pandey [94], the major factors that affect the microbial synthesis of enzyme in solid state fermentation include; selection of a suitable substrate and microorganisms, pre - treatment of the substrate, particle size (inter particle space and surface area) of the substrate, water content and water activity (aw) of the substrate, relative, humidity, type and size of the inoculum, control of temperature of fermenting matter, removal of metabolic heat, period of cultivation, maintenance of informality in the environment of solid state fermentation system and the gaseous atmosphere. APPLICATION OF PECTIC In juice extraction, both maceration and viscosity reduction contribute to the increased yields of press juice obtained. It is the ability of pectic enzyme to reduce viscosity of drinks from fruits [96]. Fogarty and Kelly [97] reported the use of pectinases in wine clarification. Hours et al. [98] reported that pectinase levels ranging from 1000 - 2000 U l-1 of juice for 1 to 3 hours are necessary to achieve clarification in three different apple juices. Pectolytic enzymes are added before fermentation of white wine musts, which are made from pressed juice without any skin contact in order to hasten clarification. Another application of pectolytic enzymes during wine making was associated with the technology of thermovinification. During heating the grape mash for few hours large amounts of pectin are released from the grape, this does not occur in traditional processing. It is therefore necessary to add a pectolytic preparation of the heated mash, so that the juice viscosity is reduced. An additional benefit from the process is that the extraction of anthocyanins was enhanced, probably due to a breakdown in cell structure by the enzyme, which allows the pigments to escape more readily and thus helps in color enhancement [99]. In the textile industry pectinases are sometimes used in the treatment of natural fibers such as linen and ramie fibers [100] . Das and Baruah [101] reported that saprophytic fungi Trichoderma reesei isolated from arecanut husk secreted high polygalacturonase and when they treated cell free preparations of polygalacturonase enzyme on arecanut seeds, the germination was better than those of seed nuts treated with distilled water. Marcia Soares et al. [102] stated that pectinases were used in the processing of green coffee beans to hasten the removal of the jelly that surrounds the coffee cherry. Natural fermentation may give a coffee bean of inferior quality. One of the potential applications of pectic enzymes involves the treatment of commercial softwoods. The age old practice of retting by which many important textile fibres such as flax, hemp and jute are prepared involves the pectinolytic enzymes of certain microorganism. 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