COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF OPTIMAL ENDOGLUCANASE PRODUCTION BY TRICHODERMA-REESEI AND INTERGENERIC FUSANTS OF TRICHODERMA-REESEI SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

Intergeneric fusants of Trichoderma reesei QM 9414/Saccharomyces cerev isiae NCIM 3288 developed in the authors' laboratory can convert cellu losic materials directly to ethanol in a single step process. The prod uction of endoglucanase in this case is a key factor. The production p rofile of this enzyme by the intergeneric fusants is different from Tr ichoderma reesei QM 9414 (WT). The production of endoglucanase was stu died seperately by Trichoderma reesei (WT) using optimal production me dium which was designed as per the combined screening approach of Plac kett-Burman followed by a central composite experimental plan and the intergeneric fusants using optimal production medium obtained by Box-B ehnken optimization procedure. Dried grass was used as the cellulosic substance whose concentration was kept constant during the statistical optimization procedure. The concentration of dried grass was later va ried keeping the other optimized medium constituents constant to find the final optimum medium composition for endoglucanase production.