International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Volume 6 Issue 7, July 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Evaluation of Enzyme Cellulase Production and it's Activity, Isolated from Local Fungi *Mohammed H. Mushrif 1 , Luai F. Zghair 2 , Muzahim Alkabban 3 Faculty of Medicine; Al-Iraqia University; Baghdad; Iraq Abstract: Eight Fungal species were isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat Triticum aestivum ( Trichoderma harzianum, T.viride, T.longibrachiatum, Alternaria alternate, Fusarium solan, Aspergillus niger, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum). All the isolated fungi had the capacity to cellulase enzyme production in solid media (CMC- Agar), moreover, T.viride gave the highest capability for the production of the enzyme (6.14). Rhizoctonia solani gave less productive ratio (3.0). Quantitative test using Mandel liquid media showed that the fungus T.viride had the highest activity of cellulase enzyme (4.39 U/ml), however this fungus had the greatest biomass (8.96 g/L). The fungus Rhizoctonia solani gave lower enzyme activity (2.04 U/ml) and its biomass reached to (4.65 g/L). Studying of different carbon sources for the fungus T. viride showed that sucrose was the best carbon source used with the liquid media for cellulase activity (3.87 U/ml), and the biomass (2.83 g/L). From these findings, such fungi able to produce enzymes when activated depending on the substrate and cultured media. Keywords: Fungi, cellulace enzyme activity. 1. Introduction Cellulose is composed of glucose molecules joined by β (1 – 4) glucosidic bonds, which makes it relatively resistant to hydrolysis and organic stores. This will make difficulty in the obtaining of glucose from cellulose according to the enzyme cellulase activity [1,2] . Human and most Mammals cannot digest cellulose due to the absence of this enzyme capable of breaking the bonds between glucose units, however ruminants can do. Cellulose is one of the most abundant carbohydrate in the nature, it makes about (15 – 60 %) of the wall components of the plants [3] . The important microorganisms ( bacteria and fungi ) studied by others [4] , make solution to disassemble cellulose into simple sugar that are easily used in many industrial fields to produce valuable materials [5] . The ability of microorganisms to analyze cellulose is due to their production of cellulase which breaks the glycosidic bonds between the glucose molecules, as important energy sources of the cells and an essential sources for oxidation. This is occur by various microorganisms used in the industry, medical and food products such as alcohol production, organic acids, antibiotics and animal food production [6] . This enzyme is added to the animal feed as an adjuvant for digestion and used in the textile and in the paper industries and genetic engineering [2] . Cellulase is an integrated enzyme complex, composed of three iso-enzymes that contribute together to the cellulose β(1 - 4) linkage and are fully melted by breaking glycoside bonds [7] : 1. Endo- 1,4- β-D- glucanase (Mcase, EC.3.2.1.4). 2. Exo – 1,4- β-D glucanase (Cellobiohydrolase, EC.3.2.1.91). 3.β-Glcosidase ( Cellobiase, EC.3.2.1.21). Growth of fungus and bacteria due to the activity of cellulase enzyme in the industrial and agricultural wastes then conversion of cellulose to a vital materials benefit, is one of the most important solutions for cellulose elimination as an environmental pollution [4] . Moreover, the conversion of cellulose to simple sugar in an enzymatic hallucinogenic manner using cellulase enzymes produced from microbiological proposals the task of producing alternative fuels (ethanol) [8] . The economic importance of the cellulase enzyme produced by microorganisms such as Trichoderma ,Aspergillus , Cladosporium, brought attention for development and designing of different types of researches [4,9] . The importance of this work comes from the fact that it highlights the role of some fungi in the production of cellulase enzyme obtained from local isolate of fungus that have high ability for enzyme production, as well as some effect of carbon sources in the production of the enzyme by .T.Viride fungus. 2. Materials and Methods 1) Fungal Isolates Eight different isolates were used in this work ( Trichoderma harzianum, T.viride, T.longibrachiatum, Alternaria alternate, Fusarium solan, Aspergillus niger, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum). All samples were isolated from the around root of the wheat plant Triticum aestivum at a depth (5 – 10 cm), using the culture media (PDA Potato-Dextrose Agar). Five grams of soil sample was taken, dried, grinded and then spread over a petridish containing the culture media (PDA). Penicillin was added to avoid bacterial growth. Dishes were incubated at (25±2 o C) For a week with a daily examination starting from the third day. Species were identified by examining the development of colonies by the light microscope. Depending on the shape and color of the colonies in addition to the microscopic examination of the branches of mycelium and spores formed for identification of fungi [9, 10] . Paper ID: ART20174502 DOI: 10.21275/ART20174502 1373