Microbial Degradation Of Bird Feathers By Soil Fungi:- Ezeigbo, Ndubuisi J

ABSTRACT

The present study deals with identification of fungi that play a significant role in the degradation of chicken feather and keratin degradation ability of the isolated fungi. Feathers of broiler chicken were collected from two poultry farms, IYKO farms and MOUAU poultry. Fungi were isolated by feather baiting technique Feathers (SDA) medium and their pure culture was prepared. Fungi were identified by Lactophenol cotton blue staining method as Aspergillus niger and Fusarium spp. The pure culture were grown in modified SDA with 2% offeathers as a sole source ofNitrogen and Carbon and incubated for the period of 25 days. At 5 days intervals, changes in the medium associated with biodegradation was evaluated by measuring the zones of inhibitions recording 6mm in diameter for Aspergillus niger and 4mm in diameter for Fusarium spp. The visible clearing zones around the colonies during the process of biodegradation was studied which proved the efficient degradation of keratin. There was also a proteolytic activity on skimmed milk agar which further confirmed the  keratinolytic activities of the isolated fungi and Aspergillus niger showed a greater proteolytic activity with 2mm, 4mm and 7mm in diameter at 4, 6 and 8 days incubation intervals in contrast