Isolation and Screening of Highly Cellulolytic Filamentous Fungi

Abstract

A large number of microorganisms are capable of degrading cellulose,\nonly a few of these microorganisms produce significant quantities of\nenzymes capable of completely hydrolysing cellulose. Fungi are the main\ncellulase-producing microorganisms. In this purposed study, seventeen\nfungal species belonging to three genera i.e. Trichoderm , Aspergillus\n and Penicillium were isolated from different sources, screened and\ncompared for their ability to degrade cellulose. The plate screening\nassay recommended by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry\n(IUPAC) were used in the investigation. Cellulolytic fungi were\nevaluated after 7 days for the production of cellulolytic enzymes by\nstaining with 1% Congo red. The diameter of clear zone on fungal\nplates, gave an approximate indication of cellulase activities. Fungal\nspecies were grouped as high and low celluloytic isolates on the basis\nof cellulase activity using Index of Relative Enzyme Activity (ICMC).\nFungal species i.e. Trichoderm harzianum , Trichoderm viride ,\nTrichoderm koningii , Aspergillus japonicus , Aspergillus nidulans\nver. dentatus\tPenicillium lanosum , Penicillium expansum and\nPenicillium oxalicum gave the highest cellulase activity. Whereas,\nAspergillus flavus , Aspergillus raperi , Aspergillus acculeatus ,\nAspergillus tamarri , Aspergillus niger , Aspergillus terreus ,\nAspergillus nidulans, Penicillium citrinum and Penicillium\nsimplicissimum\t showed least or no enzyme activity.