Isolation and screening of cellulase producing microbe and production of cellulase by utilizing agro-residue (1)

Cellulases are enzymes used in various economically relevant processes, like biofuel production, employed by various industries and researchers. Complete cellulose enzyme complex consist of endo-β-1,4-glucanase (EC 3.2.4.1), cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91) and β-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.21) which acts synergistically to convert crystalline cellulose to glucose. In the current study, cellulase producing microbes were isolated on mineral salt media containing carboxymethyl cellulose as substrate. Primary and secondary screening was carried out using CMC and congo red stain to authenticate and validate cellulose producing microbe. Enzyme activity of selected microbes were measured by dinitro salisylic acid method. Production of selected microbes was carried out by solid state fermentation using wheat bran as substrate. The results exhibited that the relative occurrence of fungi was higher as compared to other microbes, also, the enzyme activity of fungal strains was more than that of bacteria. This concludes that fungal strains have more cellulytic activity as compared to bacterial strains.