Production of cellulases by fungal cultures isolated from forest litter soil

The aims of this study were the isolation and screening of fungal cultures from forest litter soil for cellulases production. Four fungal cultures were isolated and identified. Among these fungal cultures, three belonged to the genus Aspergillus and one belonged to the genus Penicillium. These fungal cultures were tested to find their ability to produce cellulases, that catalyze the degradation of cellulose, which is a linear polymer made of glucose subunits linked by beta -1, 4 glycosidic bonds. The fungal isolate 3 (Aspergillus sp.) was noticed to show maximum zone of hydrolysis of carboxy-methyl cellulose and produce higher titers of cellulases including exoglucanase, endoglucanase and beta -D-glucosidase. The activities of the cellulases were determined by Filter paper assay (FPA), Carboxy-methly cellulase assay (CM-Case) and beta -D-glucosidase assay respectively. The total soluble sugar and extracellular protein contents of the fungal filtrates were also determined.