Copyright 9 1997 by HumanaPress Inc. All rights of any naturewhatsoever reserved. 0273-2289 / 97 / 620203--0267510.00 Production of Cellulolytic Enzymes by Coculturing of Aspergillus eilipticus and Aspergillus fumigatus Grown on Bagasse Under Solid State Fermentation AKSHAYAGUPTE AND DATTA MADAMWAR* Post Graduate Department of Biosciences, Sardar Pate/University, Vallabh Vidyanagar--388 120, Gujarat, India Received October 31, 1995; AcceptedJanuary 16, 1996 ABSTRACT Production of cellulolytic enzymes on bagasse under solid state fer- mentation by coculture of Aspergillus ellipticus and Aspergillusfumigatus was studied. Cocultivation of A. ellipticus and A. fumigatus showed improved hydrolytic and [5-glucosidase activities as compared to the occasions when they were used separately. Various pretreatment methods were used to make cellulose accessible to enzymatic attack. Best results were obtained through pretreatment with 2% (w/v) cal- cium hydroxide. Maximum enzyme production was obtained after 8 d of fermentation process. Index Entries: Pretreatment; coculture; Aspergillus spp.; solid-state fermentation. INTRODUCTION Bioconversion of cellulosic materials to sugars that could be used as sources of food, fuel, and chemicals is of potential importance in view of the increasing pressure on the existing food and energy sources (1). It is esti- mated that the photosynthetic process produces 1.5 x 1011 tons of dry mate- rial annually with respect to carbon, of which about 50% is cellulose (2). This plant polysaccharide can be used as an energy source by numerous microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria. Biomass in the form of lig- nocellulosic residues provide a mean of harnessing and storing solar energy and, hence, represents an important energy and material resource (2). *Author to whom all correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 267 Vol.62, 1997