PRODUCTION OF CELLULASE USING CHEAP SUBSTRATES BY SOLID STATEFERMENTATION

Four fungal isolates were isolated from soil and screened for cellulase production, out of the four isolates MJS1101 later identified as Aspergillus niger showed maximum zone of hydrolysis. Growth of the isolate was found to be maximum at 28°C and at pH 6.2. Four substrates (saw dust, corncob, wheat straw and newspaper) were used for fermentation and cellulase was produced by all of them but corncob gave maximum CMCase activity of 0.027U/ml/min followed by wheat straw (0.024U/ml/min), newspaper (0.020 U/ml/min) and saw dust (0.018U/ml/min).