Mixed cultivation of Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus ochraceus for improved cellulase production.

Aspergillus ochraceus IMI 317911 was screened to be a high cellobiase producing strain (2.40 IU/ml). The mixed batch cultivation of Trichoderma reesei QM 9414/Rut C-30 and A. ochraceus IMI 317911 resulted in a balanced enzyme as compared to singly grown cultures. The milled rice straw (6%, w/v) as carbon source was found suitable for production of cellulases resulting in a Filter Paper Activity (FPA) of 1.83 IU/ml and a cellobiase production of 1.63 IU/ml after 7 days of stirred cultivation. An overall cellulase productivity of 10.89 IU/l/h and an enzyme ratio to cellobiase of 1.12 was achieved.