Nanocellulose prepared by controlled microbial hydrolysis (NCm) induced secretion of complete array of
cellulase by the fungus, Trichoderma reesei. The nanocellulose prepared by conventional sulphuric acid
hydrolysis (NCa) and high pressure homogenization process (NFC) were also evaluated in this study in
addition to two commercial inducers namely, sophorose and cellobiose. Batch culture was grown on
Mandel’s basal salt medium added with cellulose as the sole carbon source. Cell growth, substrate concentration
and cellulase production were analysed over a period of 5 days. NCa, due to attachment of
sulphate groups on surface, inhibited the growth of the fungus. NFC could not effectively induce secretion
of cellulase as it tends to aggregate due to high aspect ratio ( > 1000). While sophorose induced an
incomplete array of cellulase thattoo only up to 2 h, cellobiose induced complete array with 65% substrate
utilization over a period of 5 days. NCm induced complete array of cellulase with 80% substrate utilized
over a period of 5 days. This is attributed to higher crystallinity that helped in slower degradation and
steady release of molecules needed for enzyme induction.