Enzymatic Activities of Halotolerant and Halophilic Fungi Isolated from Iko River Estuary, South-South Nigeria

Aim: Fungi that can tolerate unfavorable conditions are a potential source of stable bioactive metabolites be used for various industrial processes. Therefore this study aimed to isolate halotolerant and halophilic fungi from the Iko river estuary screen them three industrially important enzymes: amylase, cellulase, mannanase.
 Place Duration Study: Department Microbiology, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria, between September 2021 August 2022.
 Methodology: Five sediment-dwelling isolated locations along were assayed their halotolerance on PDA containing different NaCl concentrations while amylolytic, cellulolytic, mannolytic activities evaluated agar plates 10% NaCl. The highest producer screened enzymes was identified using molecular techniques further subjected submerged fermentation optimize production salt tolerant Results: All isolates halotolerant, best adapted salinity 5% (w/v), capable secreting at least one tested in (w/v). Aspergillus niger L2S1 had enzymatic index among other thus requiring optimization. optimum mannanase obtained an incubation temperature 30oC, initial pH 6.0, concentration Out agro-wastes, wheat bran most suited corncob cellulase production, maximum yield copra meal. Amylase optimal 96 hours incubation, whereas required 144 reach its activity.
 Conclusion: utilizing carbon sources including cheap agro-residues as substrates halostable mannanase.