Lipase production byAspergillus andPenicillium species

Forty each of aspergilli and penicillia were screened for extracellular lipase production on agar plates and in liquid medium containing olive oil as substrate. Twenty-nine aspergilli and twenty-six penicillia produced lipase. Out of these, 19 aspergilli and 22 penicillia showed activity both on Nile blue sulfate and glycerol tributyrate agar plates while only 10 aspergilli and 4 penicillia showed a positive response to glycerol tributyrate agar alone. The screening revealed 11Aspergillus spp. and 15Penicillium spp. as new lipase producers. Pig fat as an economic substrate for lipase production was also investigated.