The growth of Trichoderma reesei QM9414 in shake flasks at 28OC on hemicellulose substrates and bagasse resulted in rather low yields of hemicellulolytic enzymes (1.0-1.5 units/mL xylanase and 0.05-0.08 units/mL 0-xylosidase). The influence of pH on the synthesis of 0-xylosidase was greater than on the synthesis of xylanase. Both xylanase and 0-xylosidase showed optimal activity at pH 4-5 and 55-60ยฐC. Xylanase was stable at pH 2-10 but was heat labile and totally inactivated after 1 h at 65ยฐC. Enzyme stability towards heat could be increased in the presence of bovine serum albumin. The 0-xylosidase was more tolerant to heat, but stable over a pH range 2.5-6.0. The D-xylose inhibited both enzymes in a competitive manner. Hemicellulose (hetetoxylan) was degraded to the extent of 30-40'70 within 24 h. The degree of hydrolysis decreased as the substrate concentration increased and increased with increased amounts of enzyme. Multiple enzyme doses resulted in increased saccharification in reduced times. The degree of hydrolysis was influenced by the amount of 0-xylosidase present in the hemicellulolytic enzyme preparation. The 6-xylosidase was demonstrated to play an important role in the overall conversion of heteroxylan into xylose that is analogous to the role of 0-glucosidase in the saccharification of cellulose by cellulases.