Isolation and Identification of Cellulase-producing Microorganism, and Determination of Optimal Culture Condition

The strain No. 33, which produces cellulose-degrading enzyme, was isolated from soil. Yellow halo was identified when the culture supernatant of the strain was loaded onto agar plate containing 2.0% CMC using paper disc method. From scanning electron microscopic observation, the morphology of the stain was rod-shaped. For identification, several biochemical characteristics were tested, and this strain was identified to Bacillus sp. So, we named this strain as Bacillus sp. No. 33. The maximal growth was observed when the stain was cultured in the medium containing 1.0% glucose, 3.0% yeast extract, 0.5% , 0.02% , pH 7.0 at for 39 hours with shaking. The maximal enzyme production was accomplished using the medium containing 4.0% CMC, 2.0% yeast extract, 0.5% , 0.04% , pH 7.0 at for 42 hours with shaking.