Occurrence of neutral and alkaline cellulases among alkali-tolerant micromycetes

600 different natural strains of alkali-tolerant micromycetes belonging to 4 classes, 38 genera and 119 species were tested on their ability to produce neutral and alkaline cellulases. Frequency of occurrence of neutral and alkaline cellulases producers among the studied strains was estimated. It is concluded that 72% of all tested strains produce cellulases at neutral and alkaline pH values. But the largest number of neutral and alkaline cellulases producers belong to the following classes which are tolerant to extreme environmental factors: namely Hyphomycetes (genera Acremonium, Alternaria, Cylindrocarpon, Fuzarium, Penicillium, Verticillium, Myrothecium, Ulocladium, Gliocladium), Ascomycetes (genus Chaetomium) and Coelomycetes (genera Phoma, Microsphaeropsis, Aposphaeria).