Cellulase Production by Trichoderma reesei (CBS383.73) andan Isolated Botrytis Strain Using Several AgriculturalWastes

Variation in the composition of the production media were investigatedto optimize the excretion of the cellulolytic enzymes by Trichoderma reesei (CBS383.73) and a Botrytis sp. isolated from the microflora of Iran. The culture filtrate of Trichoderma reesei showed a cellulolytic activity of 300 mFPU/ml after 13 days of growth in a medium containing walseth cellulose (0.5%, w/v)at pH 5. Under similar production conditions, except for the initial pH of 7, the culture filtrate of Botrytis sp. showed an activity of 360 mFPU/ml. Replacement of walseth cellulose with H2O2 – treated bagasse, Barely husks, wheathusks, or sawdust (0.5% w/v) in the presence of the inducer (0.5% w/v, walseth cellulase) enhanced the extent of enzyme production by Trichoderma reesei to 780 mFPU/mL. The Botrytis sp. did not excreate cellulolytic enzyme using (as the main sources of carbon), the H2O2-treated bagasse or sawdust plus 0.5% walseth cellulose.However, the culture filtrate of the Botrutis sp. showed a cellulolytic activity of 679 or 463 mFPU/ml using the H2O2-treated wheat or barely husks(1% w/v) plus 0.5% walseth cellulose, respectively. In addition, the Calcium hydroxide treatment of the agricultural wastes depressed totally the enzyme secretion by the Botrytis sp. except for the treated sawdust which enhanced the enzyme production almost by a factor of seven in the absence of the inducer.