The study was aimed at screening promising cellulolytic isolates obtained from municipal wastes by using Congo red test made on carboxymethyl cellulose plates. FPase and CMCase activity of the strains were assayed on the basis of release of glucose that was detected using dinitrosalicylic acid method. In the present investigation Streptomyces albospinus (MTCC No. 8768) and Streptomyces somaliensis (MTCC No. 8769) were selected for their cellulolytic activity on the basis of the Congo red test as these isolates demonstrated larger clear zone of hydrolysis among all the isolates. It was found in S. albospinus (MTCC No. 8768), that the amount of exoglucanase decreased from 3.20 to 0.51 (in cellulose units) from 6th day and endoglucanase from 1.87 to 0.99 (in cellulose units) from 4th day, whereas in S. somaliensis (MTCC No. 8769), the production of exoglucanases decreased from 2.33 to 0.54 (in cellulose units) from 6th day and endoglucanases from 1.67 to 0.31 from 4th day as the hydrolysis proceeded.. Our findings indicated that the total amount of cellulases secreted by the strain S. albospinus (MTCC No. 8768) were more than that secreted by S. somaliensis (MTCC No. 8769), and more cellulases were produced in the initial stages of hydrolysis.
