Performance of hemicellulolytic enzymes in culture supernatants from a wide range of fungi on insoluble wheat straw and corn fiber fractions

► Soil fungi produce enzymes degrading insoluble hemicellulosic substrates. ► Different strains are selected for efficient hydrolysis of different substrates. ► Solubility, structure and architecture of substrates influence screening outcome. ► Substrate choice for identification of efficient enzymes is of main importance. ► Penicillium, Aspergillus and Trichoderma species strongly degrade complex xylans.