A microbial community was selected for growth on dried and NaOH-treated switchgrass. During a 14-day liquid cultivation, a 70% loss in dry weight was observed during the first 4 days and after 14 days, the hemicellulose and cellulose in the system were degraded by 73.5% and 67.3%, respectively. The carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) and xylanase levels reached 0.21 and 3.75 ILL respectively. The optimal pH for CMCase and xylanase activities was 5 and 6. respectively. The optimal reaction temperature of CMCase and xylanase was 60 degrees C. A library of bacterial and fungal ribosomal gene sequences obtained from the community showed the presence of Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Alcaligenes faecalis and of Fusarium sporotrichioides. To our knowledge, this was the first report on a microbial community selected in the presence of switchgrass to produce extracellular cellulases and xylanases. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.