Effect of cassavar cultivar, age and pretreatment processes of cellulase and xylanase production from cassava waste by Trichoderma harzianum

Cassava wastes - the peel and the root fibre were taken through various pretreatment procedures before being subjected to solid state fermentation with Trichoderma harzianum. Most of the pretreatment processes increased the cellulose and hemicellulose content of the cassava peel and fibre by as high as 155% while sulfuric acid treatment resulted in 25.3% loss in the peel hemicellulose. The best pretreatment found to be 1% NaOH at 120 degrees C gave the highest production of the C-x, the C-1 and xylanase enzymes with the cassava root fibre. Xylanase and cellulase production with the exception of the Cx was found to be affected by age while an improved cassava variety TMS(2) 1425 peel and fibre rated highest in terms of production of the enzymes. Percentage hydrolysis within range of 56.52-67.64% were recorded for the enzymes on sorghum grains.