Screening and isolation cellulase producing fungi

Abstract

Three strains fungal were isolated from soil sample Aspergillus spp was the predominant genera in these soil samples.The most potent cellulase producer were selected for stdying their cellulase productivity on rice husk as cheap renewable agriculture waste by solid state fermentation. Aspergillus spp. was grown on selected media for the screening process to see the clearance zone of colony. Result showed that only the fungi type (a) is the best cellulase producer. These fungi were potential cellulose degrader and useful for enzyme production. Fermentation was carried out in flasks containing the different condition of moisture content, ph and inoculums size. These three parameters were studied to find the optimum condition for cellulase production. Optimization of three parameters, initial pH (4.5-5.5), moisture content (65% (w/v)-85% (w/v) and inoculum sizes (2% (w/v)-6% (w/v) were investigated and optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for optimal cellulase production by fungal type (a). A second order polynomial equation was fitted and the optimum condition was established. The result showed that the optimum condition for cellulase production was predicted at 75% (w/v) initial moisture (5.5) pH and 4% (w/v) inoculum size. The predicted optimal parameter was tested in the laboratory and the cellulase activity 1.55 mg/mL was recorded to be closed to the predicted value is 1.3872 mg/mL.