Study on the Cellulase Activity of Fungi by Solid State Fermentation Using Cellulosic Wastes

The present study aims to use of fungi for the degradation of cellulosic wastes like Waste Paper, Cotton ginning, Wheat Bran, Sugarcane bagasse and Cellulose using solid state fermentation for cellulase production. Total 34 isolates were obtained from various sources by the primary screening technique from which 14 isolates were showing higher cellulase activity. Potential isolates were obtained from wood furnishing region and paper industry waste. Different fungal strains were tested to find their ability to produce cellulase, which catalyse the degradation of cellulose, which is a linear psolymer made of glucose subunits linked by 1-4 glyosidic bonds. Selected 14 fungi strain were inoculated on different agriculture waste for the production of cellulase enzyme. Among these, wheat bran gave maximum zone of hydrolysis of carboxy-methyl cellulose and shown higher activities of the cellulase, which were determined by Filter paper assay (FPA) and Carboxy-methly cellulase assay (CMCase). Maximum production of cellulolytic enzymes was found in wheat bran. A4, A5, A7, A8 and A10 produced higher endoglucanase activity 5.36 U/g, 5.32 U/g, 7.53 U/g, 6.53 U/g, 5.26 U/g respectively as well as higher FPase activity 2.45 U/g, 0.95 U/g, 1.86 U/g, 1.98 U/g, 1.06 U/g respectively.