Novel lignocellulolytic ability of Candida utilis during solid- substrate cultivation on apple pomace

Lignocellulolytic enzymes from conventional and non-conventional yeasts are not commonly studied, and they have never been described for Candida utilis species. After solid-substrate cultivation of C. utilis (CCT 3469) on apple pomace, degradation of cellulose, pectin and lignin fragments was observed.

Production of the main lignocellulolytic enzymes by C. utilis was investigated and high activity for pectinase (239 U ml−1) as well as a significant manganese-dependent peroxidase (19.1 U ml−1) activity was found. Low cellulase (3.0 U ml−1) and xylanase (1.2 U ml−1) activities were also observed suggesting that C. utilis may have lignocellulose degradation ability.