This
study describes a novel dark-green spore producing strain of Trichoderma harzianum exhibiting higher activities
of cellulase, hemicellulase and ligninase on specific plate assays. To assess the
cellulase production in detail, basal salt medium (BSM) was supplemented with synthetic
[carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), glucose, sucrose, dextrose, lactose or maltose]
and natural (flours of banana, banana peel, jack seed, potato or tapioca) carbon
as well as nitrogen (yeast extract, beef extract, peptone, NaNO3 or NH4NO3)
sources. Temperature and pH optima were 28?C and 4, respectively for the growth
of the fungus in CMC- BSM with 146 U/ml cellulase activity. Flours of potato and
banana supported comparable yields of cellulase to that of CMC (147 U/ml and 168
U/ml, respectively), while sodium nitrate was the preferred nitrogen source (150
U/ml). The water soluble yellowish-green pigment (a probable siderophore) extracted
from the spores showed an absorption maximum at 414 nm. To comprise, this fungus
shows the complete lignocellulolytic potential which offers great industrial significance,
especially for the ethanol production from the lignocellulosic waste coupled with
the production of a new pigment.