Agricultural Research Journal

A study was undertaken to optimize process parameters for production of cellulases by a thermophilic fungus Humicola fuscoatra MTCC 1409 through solid state fermentation using paddy straw as a growth promoting substrate. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize culture conditions for maximizing the production of cellulases. Four different independent process parameters viz. temperature, pH, inoculum size and incubation period were selected and effect of these parameters on production of different cellulases was ascertained. Optimum conditions for production of cellulases from H. fuscoatra were temperature 45˚C, pH 6.0, inoculum concentration of 107 spores/ml and incubation period of 6 days. Under these conditions 1.90 units/g of CMCase, 0.90 units/g of FPase and 13.5 units/g of cellobiase were produced. Inoculum size had the most significant effect on CMCase production followed by temperature and pH, whereas, incubation period did not have any significant effect on CMCase production. Temperature, pH and inoculum size witnessed significant effect on production of FPase and cellobiase followed by incubation period.