Recent developments and biotechnological applications of microbial pectinases

Pectinases are a group of enzymes that degrade pectin, a major structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls. These enzymes have gained growing scientific and industrial importance due to their broad range of applications, including fruit juice clarification, textile processing, paper bleaching, and wastewater treatment. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of recent developments in microbial pectinase research, emphasizing the diversity of microbial sources, optimization of production parameters, enzyme engineering approaches, and industrial applications. Particular attention has been given to recent biotechnological strategies that enhance enzyme yield, stability, and functionality. A comparative discussion of recent studies has been added to highlight emerging trends, existing limitations, and future perspectives in microbial pectinase utilization. The novelty of this review lies in its integrated overview of microbial diversity, process optimization, and biotechnological applications, offering new insights into sustainable and innovative uses of pectinases across various industries.