PRODUCTION OF CELLULASES FROM COCONUT COIR PITH IN SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION

Coconut coir pith, available in abundance especially in tropical count ries, was studied as a substrate for the production of cellulase[1,4(1 ,3;1,4)-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4] and beta-D-gluco sidase(beta-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) in solid state fe rmentation. The effects of fermentation time, nutrient level, substrat e particle size and inoculum size have been examined for optimal produ ction of these enzymes by the fungal strain Aspergillus niger NCIM 100 5. The highest filter paper activity (FPA) of 4.11 IU g-1, carboxyl me thyl cellulose (CMCase) activity of 15.55 IU g-1 and cellobiase activi ty of 9.31 IU g-1 were obtained after 7 to 8 days of fermentation. Ree se and Mandels' mineral solution in the substrate to mineral solution ratio of 1:10 (w/v) supported high cellulase and cellobiase activities . An inoculum size of 20-50% (v/v) based on the volume of mineral medi um and substrate average particle size of 375 mum were optimum for enz yme production.