Isolation and partial purification of fungal cellulases from forest soils of bhadra wildlife sanctuary, Western Ghats of Southern India

Present study was followed with the aim that selection of more efficient strains of fungal species from the forest soils for the production of industrially important fungal cellulase under submerged fermentation (SmF). Isolation and characterization of cellulolytic fungal strains from the nutrient enrichment method yields 22 fungal species. More efficient eight fungal strains were selected based on the rate of zone of clearance on the CMC agar plates by Congored test. Production of cellulase was studied in Czapek broth supplemented with 2% CMC at an optimal conditions of temperature 28±1ºC, pH-7.0 and 5th days of incubation under shake culture. Maximum Corboxymethyl cellulase activity showed by Penicillium pallidum (0.059±0.001 U/mL), Aspergillus terreus (0.056±0.001 U/mL) and Trichoderma viridae (0.052±0.003 U/mL). Filter Paperase activity by Penicillium pallidum (0.057±0.001 U/mL), Trichoderma viridae (0.054±0.002 U/mL) and Aspergillus terreus (0.050±0.005 U/mL) than the other isolates. Soluble crude proteins were maximum by Penicillium sp. (170±5 µg/mL), Penicillium pallidum (170±2.64 µg/mL) and Aspergillus niger (170±2 µg/mL) and partial purified protein was maximum by Penicillium pallidum (115±2 µg/mg), Cunninghamella echinulata (80±2 µg/mg) and Trichoderma viridae (75±2.64 µg/mg) than the other isolates at 5th day of incubation.