Chicken feather waste degradation by Alternaria tenuissima and its application on plant growth

The use of chicken as food is rising day today and as byproduct 8.5 billion tons, poultry feathers are produced worldwide, whereas India contributes about 350 million tons per annum. It is a waste product of poultry industries, are considered a potential high-quality protein supplement owing to their crude protein content of more than 85%. In the present study Alternaria tenuissima a keratinophilic fungus was used for feather degradation in submerged state fermentation and soil. Total Protein releases were studied in submerged state fermentation by A. tenuissima are 122µg/ml and 238µg/ml in 15 and 25 days respectively. Lysine, Methionine, Cysteine and Valine were found 15.8, 6.8, 20.2, 7.5 µg/ml in 25 days, respectively. Chicken feathers were mixed with soil and inoculated with spore suspension for degradation of complex keratin protein into simpler organic forms. A. tenuissima degraded feathers in soil and enhances nutritional value. Five-gram feathers in 250 g soil mixtures were found better growth enhancers and increased height. This work will reduce the solid waste generated in the form of feathers from the poultry industry, and convert it into a simpler organic form that can be used by plants.

DNA sequence analysis of keratinophilic fungi isolated from livestock stables in the East of Iran

Background and Purpose: Keratinophilic fungi play an important role in the decomposition of keratinous substances in nature. This capacity induces dermatomycosis in both humans and livestock. The soil of livestock stables can be a reservoir of keratinophilic fungi. Therefore, the present study was conducted to isolate and identify keratinophilic fungi in the soil of the livestock stables located in Qayen, South Khorasan Province, Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 62 soil samples collected from livestock stables. The samples were cultured by means of hair bait technique (HBT). The identification of the isolates was performed based on their morphological characteristics and then confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the ITS regions of ribosomal DNA. Results: A total of 118 isolates of 7 species from 5 genera were identified. Aphanoascus verrucosu (n=70, 59.36%) was detected as the dominant keratinophilic fungus, followed by Arthroderma quadrifidum (n=13, 11.01%), Aphanoascus terreus (n=12, 10.16%), Acremonium (n=12, 10.16%), Arthroderma gertleri (n=5, 4.23%), Fusarium equiseti (n=3, 2.54%), and Uncinocarpus reesii (n=3, 2.54%). Conclusion: Different keratinophilic fungi were isolated from the soil of livestock stables; however, Aphanoascus verrucosu was found to be the dominant species.

Antifungal Potential of Aqueous Extract of Some Traditional Plants on Microsporum Gypseum

The aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica, Trigonella foenum graecum, Allium sativum, Cinnamomum tamala, Capsicum annum were used to test their antifungal properties against the keratinophilic fungus Microsporum gypseum. Plant aqueous extracts were taken at two different concentrations of 5% and 10%. The present study revealed that Allium sativum and Capsicum annum at 10% conc. had more potent antifungal potential as compared to all the other extracts followed by Azadirachta indica, Trigonella foenum graecum and Cinnamomum tamala.

Nowakowskiella keratinophila sp. nov., a keratinophilic fungus from the brackish water

<i>Nowakowskiella keratinophila</i> sp. nov. isolatod from ihe brackish water of the bay Zalew Wiślany in Poland on snake skin bail is described. The new species is related to <i>Nawakawskiella elegans</i> Nowakowski but differs in the type of operculation of sporangia and the affinity to keratinized substrata.