Enhanced production of cellulose degrading CMCase by newly isolated strain of Aspergillus versicolor

•New strain Aspergillus versicolor was isolated for maximum production of cellulose degrading enzyme.•Cellulose degradation was performed using agar plate method.•Variation of a single parameter at a time method was used in CMC containing medium.•Aspergillus versicolor showed maximum production of CMCase at 30 °C.

Production of CMCase from newly isolated strain of Aspergillus versicolor was studied by optimizing different physico-chemical parameters. Cellulolytic potential of the isolate was confirmed by the simple agar plate method and then subjected to variation of a single parameter at a time in CMC containing medium. Maximum enzyme production was obtained at 30 °C in 120 h when medium was supplemented with 0.5 gm% carboxymethyl cellulose, 0.2 gm% Tween 80, 0.075 gm% peptone, 0.050 gm% CaCl2, 1.5 gm% NaNO3 and 0.2 gm% KH2PO4 at pH 4.0. Current study holds great potential as the organism reported here could easily be used for the production of cellulase using renewable biomass.