Xylanolytic and Ethanologenic Potential of Gut Associated Yeasts from Different Species of Termites from India

Xylophagous termites are capable of degrading lignocellulose by symbiotic gut microorganisms along with the host’s indigenous enzymes. Therefore, the termite gut might be a potential niche to obtain natural yeasts with celluloytic, xylanolytic and ethanologenic traits required for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we cultured 79 yeasts from three different termites <i>viz. Coptotermes heimi</i>, <i>Odontotermes javanicus</i> and <i>Odontotermes obesus</i>. After suitable screening methods, we identified 53 yeasts, which belonged to 10 genera and 16 different species of both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous yeasts. Most yeasts in the present study represent their first-ever isolation from the termite gut. Representative strains of identified yeasts were evaluated for their cellulolytic, xylanolytic, and ethanologenic abilities. None of the isolates showed cellulase activity; 22 showed xylanolytic activity, while six produced substantial quantities of ethanol. Among xylanolytic cultures, <i>Pseudozyma hubeiensis</i> STAG 1.7 and <i>Hannaella pagnoccae</i> STAG 1.14 produced 1.31 and 1.17 IU of xylanase. Among ethanologenic yeasts, the strains belonging to genera <i>Candida</i> and <i>Kodamaea</i> produced high amount of ethanol. Overall, highest ethanol level of 4.42 g/L was produced by <i>Candida tropicalis</i> TS32 using 1% glucose, which increased up to 22.92 g/L at 35 °C, pH 4.5 with 5% glucose. Fermentation of rice straw hydrolysate gave 8.95 g/l of ethanol with a yield of 0.42 g/g using the strain TS32. Our study highlights the gut of wood-feeding termites as a potential source of diverse yeasts that would be useful in the production of xylanase and bioethanol.