grown on Ficus nitida wastes

Abstract- The potentiality of 12 fungal species to produce β-glucosidase and protease when grown on Ficus nitida wastes as a rich organic source was investigated under conditions of “solid state fermentation”. Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg NRRL 26517 was the best fungus for the production of the two enzymes. The effect of pH, temperature and incubation periods on the production of both enzymes were taken under study. The maximal production was found to be at pH 5.0 and temperature of 25 ˚C for β-glucosidase and at pH 6.0 and temperature of 30 ˚C for protease. The highest production of both enzymes was achieved after an incubation period of 10 days. β-Glucosidase and protease were purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and column chromatography on Sephadex G-100 & DEAE-Cellu-lose. Maximal activities of the two purified enzymes were recorded at pH 4.5 and 45 ˚C for beta-glucosidase, and at pH 6.5 and 55 ˚C for protease. The two enzymes were found to have a good thermostability. Cellobiose followed by salicin were the best substrates for β-glu-cosidase activity, and casein was the best one for protease activity