Multicomponent assessment and optimization of the cellulase activity by Serratia marcescens inhabiting decomposed leaf litter soil

In lignocellulosic biomass digestion, the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic polymers is regarded as the rate-limiting step for enzyme synthesis. The present study is focused on hydrolytic microbial communities isolation from degraded leaf litter soil, and optimization efforts that aid in the decomposition of biomass in the environment. Based on morphological characteristics and leads from preliminary testing, four of the isolates were determined to be effective cellulose degraders. Molecular identification of robust microbial genera included Galactomyces sp. Cefu3, Aspergillus flavus N11, Serratia marcescens CH1, and Bacillus sp Cp4 species, respectively. Serratia marcescens CH1 was determined to be the most potent of the four isolates for cellulase enzyme activity. Further, Serratia marcescens CH1 exhibited highest multi-enzyme activity for endo-(1,4)-β-D-glucanase, exo-(1,4)-β-D-glucanase, and β-glucosidase. The assay conditions were optimized and determined by the Response Surface Methodology (RSM).