Production of extracellular enzymes in mutants isolated from trichoderma viride unable to hydrolyze cellulose

Mutant strains not producing cellulases were induced and isolated from the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma viride. Enrichment of mutants was carried out with the aid of nystatin selection. Mutants were shown to lack the ability to hydrolyze both soluble and crystalline cellulose. Mannanase and xylanase activities were also absent, indicating a common regulation for all these enzymes in T. viride. In some strains aryl-beta-glucosidase activity was also missing. Mutants grew normally, but the amount of proteins secreted into the medium was very low, and in most cases these proteins were qualitatively different from the proteins of the parent strain.