Abstract

Three Pleurotus spp., Pleurotus florida, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus sajar-caju, were screened for cellulolytic enzyme production under submerged fermentation conditions. Of these, P. florida, was studied for optimizing medium composition, incubation period, initial pH and incubation temperature to maximize cellulolytic enzyme production. Malt extract at 0.5%, 12 day of incubation period and 1% CMC as carbon source supported maximum production of cellulases. The optimum temperature and pH for maximum production of enzymes were 35 to 40°C and 5.0 for exo-and endoglucanases and 30°C and 4.5 for b- glucosidase.

Key words: Endoglucanase, exoglucanase, fermentation conditions, b-glucosidase, medium composition.