CELLULASE ACTIVITY IN PEAT BOG SOIL AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

Cellulase activity (CA) in peat bog soil was assessed in the temperatu re range from +6 degrees to +59 degrees C with the use of cellophane m embrane technique. The recorded CA values ranged from 0.004 to 0.157 m u g red. sug./ml/h, the maximum CA value being seen at +38 degrees C. The CA of a pure culture of Aspergillus fumigatus that dominated the s oil at +38 degrees C was assessed. The culture growing on the Chapek-D ox medium with filter paper showed its CA to be 2.8 and 0.9 mu g red. sug./ml/h at temperatures +38 degrees and 25 degrees C, respectively.