Cellulase enzyme production enhancement in Trichoderma viride by Gamma induced mutation

Trichoderma species have been famous for production of cellulases with relatively high enzymatic activity. However, attempts to use their cellulolytic enzymes in the bioconversion of cellulosic wastes have not been successful because of high cost of production and low enzymatic yields. This study aimed to obtain gamma-induced mutants of T. viride with enhanced extracellular cellulase production. Spore suspensions were exposed to γ-rays at 250 Gy as optimum dose. After irradiation, all germinated spores were grown onto PDA plates and mutant strains with better sporulation were selected and subcultured five times to test their stability. Cellulase activity was tested using Whatman No. 1 filter paper, carboxymethyl cellulose, avicel, bacterial cellulose and walseth cellulose according to the IUPAC recommendation. Extracellular proteins profiles of mutant strains were studied via SDS-PAGE. The maximum activity of total cellulase and avicelase were observed in the isolate of M21 (92.43 and 74.40 U/mg, respectively) and maximum endo-glucanase activity was observed in M18 mutant. The results of this study showed that the application of gamma ray led to a significant increase in Cellulose activity of 38 percent of mutant strains. Thus, this method could be used as a simple and efficient way to achieve strains with the ability to produce high levels of enzymes and other biological metabolites.