Chemical and gamma-ray-modified bagasse as substrates for bioproduction of cellulases and protein

Abstract

Production of enzymes in the cellulolytic complex was determined in culture filtrates of six fungal isolates grown on chemically treated or gamma‐irradiated bagasse. The enzymatic activities of the filtrates were determined by measurement of glucose release from cotton, filter paper, carboxymethylcellulose, cellobiose, and cellobiose octaacetate. Cultures grown on base‐treated and gamma‐irradiated plus acid‐treated bagasse provided culture filtrates with the highest enzymatic activities whereas α‐cellulose, untreated, and acid‐treated bagasse were the poorest substrates for enzyme production. Filtrates of Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 yielded the highest cellulolytic activity in all test media. The largest accumulation of fungal‐derived, extracellular protein was observed in media containing gamma‐irradiated bagasse as the carbon substrate.