Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Agriculture Biochemistry

In order to obtain microorganisms for degradation of the agricultural wastes, six native Egyptian fungal strains were isolated, morphologically identified and screened for cellulose biodegradation potential which was determined as endoglucanase or as carboximethylcellulase (CMCase) producers. The most promising isolate (Aspergillus terreus) with cellulolytic activity 2.26 U/mL was selected for molecular characterizations based on sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The result confirmed that the strain is 99.8% homology with A. terreus. Further optimization experiments revealed that 35{u00BA}C is the optimum temperature for cellulase production and raised the enzyme activity up to 3.19 U/mL. Out of two organic nitrogen sources; peptone and yeast extract, the peptone at concentration 6g/l was found to be the optimum nitrogen source for cellulase production with the highest activity 4 U/mL. Whereas, the different four carbon sources: microcellulose, corn stalks, wheat straw and rice straw showed significant differences in the enzyme activity with values 11.07, 9.68, 7.87 and 3.71 U/mL, respectively at pH 3. The maximum enzyme activity was recorded to be within 5-7 days of incubation, depending on the type of carbon sources

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