Construction of cellulase hyper-producers of Trichoderma reesei Rut C-30 for utilization of waste paper using colchicine and benomyl

Autopolyploidization and haploidization techniques were used in an attempt to obtain cellulase hyper-producers for the utilization of waste paper. The mycelial mat of Trichoderma reesei Rut C-30 treated with 0.1% colchicine solution for 35 days was haploidized by benomyl. Cellulase hyper-producers were selected from conidia generated on the haploidized colonies using the primary selection medium containing 1.0% (w/v) waste paper powder and the secondary selection medium containing 1.0% (w/v) Avicel. The hydrolyzing activities of the selected strain, WP-1, toward Avicel, CMC, and Salicin were 1.9, 2.0, and 3.5 times higher than those of the original strain, respectively.