Effect of gamma irradiation on the production of cellulase enzyme by some fungal isolates

The production of cellulase by various wild fungal isolates under optimal growth conditions was investigated. Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus terreus produced the highest amount of Cx and C1 cellulose enzyme. When sugar cane bagasse was used as the substrate, the highest cellulase activity was obtained by the second irradiation of T.viride at 20 krad (253.5%) followed by the first irradiation of T.viride at the same irradiation dose (134.5%). Moreover, the percentage of hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse by the first irradiation isolates of A.terreus and F.roseum at 5 krad were 139.6 and 199.4% of their parent isolates, respectively. On the other hand, the highest dry weight and protein content of fungal mycelium were obtained in presence of solka floc cellulose.3 fig., 3 tab