Effects of Cultural Conditions on the Production of Cellulase and β-Glucosidase from Rhizopus javanicus

Abstract

The cellulase activity was demonstrated in cell-free preparations from the alcohol-fermenting fungus Rhizopus javanicus ATCC 44037. The formation of extracellular cellulase was stimulated by carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and prevented by glucose, although mycelial growth was stimulated by gluc se and retarded by CMC. Glucose also prevented the formation of β-glucosidase, thus slowing down the hydrolysis of cellulose. The relative hydrolysis rate of CMC, xylose, microcrystalline cellulose and filter paper were 100, 88, 36 and 12, respectively.