P. ANURADHA*, K. VIJAYALA KS HNII, P. UNIAMAHESWARI DEVI S. HARITHA AND K.P. JYOTHSNA
Abstract
Cellulolytic bacteria were isolated on Cellulose Agar medium and screened by cellulolysis method. The isolated six bacterial strains from sugarcane fields StA, StB, Stc, StD, StE and StF were identified as Bacillus sp. based on morphological, biochemical and physiological characters. The strain StA exhibited highest cellulolytic activity and is producing a cellulase enzyme complex. Activities of individual enzyme components of cellulase system were assayed. Maximum production of exo P-glucanase, endo 13-glucanase and fi-glucosidase was found at 55°C and pH 8, indicating the thermotolerant nature of the enzymes. Effect of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen sources, surfactants and cellulose concentration on cellulase production was studied. CuSO4 increased the activity of all the three enzyme components, while EDT A, NaN3 inhibited the activity of all the three enzyme components.