Direct cellobiose production from cellulose using sextuple beta-glucosidase gene deletion Neurospora crassa mutants

► Seven sextuple beta-glucosidase (bgl) gene deletion Neurospora crassa mutants were constructed. ► Using these mutant strains, cellobiose were produced from cellulose directly without exogenous cellulase addition. ► The deletion of multiple bgl genes did not slower the cellulase production for most of the mutants. ► The best strain F5 produced 7.7 g/L cellobiose from 20 g/L Avicel in 4 days.