600 different natural strains of alkali-tolerant micromycetes belonging to
4 classes, 38 genera and 119 species were tested on their ability to produc
e neutral and alkaline cellulases. Frequency of occurrence of neutral and a
lkaline cellulases producers among the studied strains was estimated. It is
concluded that 72% of all tested strains produce cellulases at neutral and
alkaline pH values. But the largess number of neutral and alkaline cellula
ses producers belong to the following classes which are tolerant to extreme
environmental factors: namely Hyphomycetes (genera Acremonium, Alternaria,
Cylindrocarpon, Fuzarium, Penicillium, Verticillium, Myrothecium, Ulocladi
um, Gliocladium), Ascomycetes (genus Chaetomium) and Coelomycetes (genera P
homa, Microsphaeropsis, Aposphaeria).