Cellulolytic activity of cellulose-decomposing fungi isolated from Aswan hot desert soil, Egypt

Fungi are well known agents for decomposition of organic matter in common and of cellulosic material, in particular; therefore they considered as the main cellulose producing microorganisms. The present study was aimed to isolate and screen the ability of cellulolytic fungal strains from desert soil living under environmental stress to produce cellulolytic enzymes. Forty-three fungal strains in addition to two varieties were isolated from different sites at Aswan University campus and were able to degrade the cellulose with variable extents. Fungal species were grouped as high, moderate and low cellulolytic activity. The cellulase activity was assayed by carboxymethyl-cellulose "CMase" assay (endoglucanases).The highest cellulase producing isolates were Fusarium dimerum and Rhizopus oryzae. The optimum parameters for high activity of cellulase enzyme are pH 5, 35C at 9th, 11 thdays for Fusarium dimerum and Rhizopus oryzae, respectively.