Mutants of Aspergillus niger NCIM 1207, isolated by subjecting conidia to UV-irradiation, were tested for the production of lipase (glycerol ester hydrolase EC 3.1.1.3), Mutants UV- 10 and ANCR-1 showed seven fold and five fold enhanced productivity of enzyme, respectively, over the wild strain in shake flask culture when grown in SOB medium containing 1% olive oil. Maximum lipase activity (41 IU/ml) was obtained in the culture broth when UV-10 was grown in medium supplemented with 0.5% Triton X-100. A higher concentration of oil in the medium did not help lipase production in the case of mutant UV-10. Similarly no increase in enzyme levels was observed when mutant UV-10 was grown in medium supplemented with glucose. However, the addition of glucose in the medium resulted in increased levels of lipase production by wild strain, Aspergillus niger NCIM 1207. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.