Influence of different cultural conditions on cellulase production by Nectria catalinensis.

The production of the extracellular cellulolytic enzyme system (endoglucanase, exoglucanase and cellobiase) of N. catalinensis was tested with different nitrogen sources, inorganic and organic ones, in liquid culture medium with microcrystalline cellulose. The nitrogen compounds used were: potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, ammonium carbonate, ammonium acetate, ammonium tartrate, urea, casamino acids, glycine, L-alanine, L-leucine, L-proline, L-lysine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, L-methionine and L-cysteine. Among these, ammonium nitrate and ammonium tartrate gave the highest yields of cellulases in 20-day-old cultures at a concentration equivalent to 0.75 g N/l in both cases. Optimal temperature for cellulase production, growth and cellulose degradation was 23 degrees C. On the other hand, an initial pH of 6.5 gave the highest yields of endoglucanase and cellobiase. In the same way, at pH 6.5, maximal growth and cellulose degradation were achieved. However, maximal exoglucanase production and glycogen content were reached at pH 7.5.