Production of amylase and cellulase: Degradation of starch and carboxymethylcellulose by extracellular enzymes from four fungal species

Four fungal species, Aspergillus terreus (SA 562), Fusarium moniliforme (SA 1190), Aspergillus carneus (SA 1326) and Phoma sorghina (SA 1397) have been screened for the production of cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4) and amylase (EC 3.2.1.1). All the species grew profusely on culture plates containing 1% ground millet, starch or carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as the carbon source. Maximum growth was observed within about 96 h. When grown in submerged liquid culture, stationary or shaken at 20 strokes min −1, the species produced a good yield of extracellular cellulase and amylase. Differences in yield of enzymes for stationary and shaking growth were negligible. A preliminary study of the action of the crude enzymes on CMC, starch, ground millet (Pannisetum typhoidees) and acha (Digitaria exilis) is reported.