Production of cellulases by thermophilic fungi grown on Leptochloa fusca straw.

Seven indigenous thermophilic fungi were screened for cellulase and xylanase production when grown on Leptochloa fusca (kallar grass) straw. Aspergillus fumigatus produced the highest activities of 0.4, 2.5, 3.5 and 0.14 U/ml of filter paper cellulase, CM-cellulase, xylanase and β-xylosidase, respectively. Sporotrichum thermophile produced 0.47 β-glucosidase/ml. Chaetomium thermophile, Humicola grisea and Torula thermophila had lower activities than the other thermophilic fungi.