Environmental Biotechnology
EJB Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol.4 No. 3, Issue of December 15, 2001.
© 2001 by Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received July 19, 2001 / Accepted November 15, 2001
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Trichoderma aureoviride 7-121, a mutant with enhanced production of lytic enzymes: its potential use in waste cellulose degradation and/or biocontrol

Mercedes Zaldívar*
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas
Universidad de Chile
PO Box 174, Santiago 22, Chile
Tel: 56 2 6781658
Fax: 56 2 2227900
E-mail:
mzaldiva@uchile.cl

Juan Carlos Velásquez#
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas
Universidad de Chile
PO Box 174, Santiago 22, Chile

Inés Contreras
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas
Universidad de Chile
PO Box 174, Santiago 22, Chile
Tel: 56 2 6781658
Fax: 56 2 2227900

Luz María Pérez§
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas
Universidad de Chile
PO Box 174, Santiago 22, Chile
E-mail: lperez@abello.unab.cl

* Corresponding author

Financial support: IFS Grant E/1159 (M.Z.) and Fondecyt 1970532 (L.M.P.).

Keywords: biological control, lytic enzymes, Trichoderma aureoviride.

Present adresses: # Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile. Tel: 56 2 6618418. Fax: 56 2 6618390. § Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile. Tel: 56 2 6618410. Fax: 56 2 6618390.

Abstract
Full Text

A mutant of the native fungus Trichoderma aureoviride, 7-121, selected for its overproduction of extracellular cellulase and ß-glucosidase (cellobiase) was obtained. In shake flask cultures, production of endoglucanase, filter paper activity and cellobiase increased two to four- fold as compared with the wild type strain. The mutant strain is stable and grows rapidly in liquid as well as in solid culture media. Enzyme yields were best when pH was controlled so that it did not fall bellow pH 3.5. Cellobiase production by this mutant is particularly high (approximately 5 U/ml) as compared to other Trichoderma, strains, which makes it a suitable candidate for waste cellulose degradation. In addition, the mutant strain showed enhanced production of fungal cell wall degrading enzymes: chitinases, ß-1,3-glucanases and proteases. This improvement in extracellular enzyme production by the mutant T. aureoviride 7-121 suggests that it is a suitable strain to be used in biological control.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network
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