Bioprocessing of enhanced cellulase production from a mutant of Trichoderma asperellum RCK2011 and its application in hydrolysis of cellulose

A mutant strain of Trichoderma asperellum RCK2011 was developed through UV-irradiation for enhanced cellulase production and lower catabolite repression. The production of FPase, CMCase and β-glucosidase was optimized under solid state fermentation; up to 20 mM of glucose did not inhibit cellulase production. The mutant strain T. asperellum SR1-7 produced FPase (2.2 IU/gds), CMCase (13.2 IU/gds), and β-glucosidase (9.2 IU/gds) under optimized conditions, which is, 1.4, 1.3, 1.5-fold higher than the wild type. The wild as well as mutant strain produced the cellulases at pH range, 4.0–10.0. Saccharification of pretreated corn cob, wheat straw, and sugarcane bagasse by cellulase from mutant strain SR1-7 resulted in release of reducing sugar at the rate of 530.0 mg/g, 290.0 mg/g, and 335.0 mg/g of substrate, respectively; this is 1.6-fold higher than the wild type strain.