Vol. 10, Special Issue 1, Part K (2026)

White rot fungi are known to degrade wood due to its ability to produce various lignocellulolytic enzymes. The synergistic effect of fungal coculture on lignocellulosic degradation is not much known. In the present study lignocellulolytic enzyme activity of Irpex lacteus and Daedaleopsis confragosa were compared in mono culture and coculture supplemented with various concentrations of Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida Cogn.). The result revealed that gradual increasing in the concentration of ash gourd from 1-10% leads to enhancement of enzyme activity but 5% concentration proved to be best for all the lignocellulolytic enzyme activity after that decline in the enzyme activity was noticed which was still higher than the activity in the control medium with no ash gourd. I. lacteus showed an absence of LiP enzyme activity throughout the present study. Both the monocultures and coculture showed an absence of cellulase enzyme activity in control as well as media supplemented with different concentrations of ash gourd pulp. LiP, MnP, Laccase, AAO and Xylanase activity enhanced in 5% ash gourd pulp in monoculture as well as in coculture of I. lacteus and D. confragosa.