Cutin a polymeric biological macromolecule made up of esterified polyacids which acts as an inducer
of cutinase. The present work was based on screening and characterization of newer cutin source from
the agro industrial wastes as inducers of cutinase production by Fusarium oxysporum MTCC 2480. Cutin
isolated from peels of multi green colored watermelon (WMC) yielded 6.77 U/mL as compared to that
9.64 U/mL of cutinase using apple cutin. The FTIR and 13C CP-MAS solid state NMR studies indicated the
nature of WMC to be an aliphatic polyester of polyhydroxy fatty acids. A further FTIR spectroscopic study
on dewaxed cutin confirmed that the ester linkages in WMC were completely hydrolyzed during submerged
fermentation. GC–MS data clearly indicated the critical structural feature of WMC viz. hydroxyl
groups at -position and middle of the fatty acid chain. The amorphous nature of WMC was confirmed
by XRD. DSC of WMC showed two endothermic transition peaks, one broad appearing at 30–60 ◦C and
other at 145 ◦C. Thermogravimetric analysis of WMC suggested it to be thermally stable up to 200 ◦C. This
study warrants further work on using WMC as a substrate for fermentative production of cutinase.