The study was to determine the effect of water activity (0.850; 0.900; 0.950; 0.995; and 0.999 aw) on the growth of T. lanuginosus on solid media containing different cellulose substrates (crystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose - CMC, fi lter paper, and sawdust) and xylan. The growth of isolates from coffee beans and garden composts were compared. All isolates did not grow on media with aw < 0.950. On media with aw > 0.950, the hydrolysis zones were only observed on xylan and CMC. The highest daily growth and hydrolysis zone rates were mostly obtained at 0.995 aw and the lowest values were observed at 0.950 aw. The coffee beans isolates at 0.950 aw had the CMC hydrolysis coeffi cient 1.7-times higher than that for xylan. The fungal growth (FG) coeffi cient data indicate that the coffee beans isolates were able to utilize CMC and crystalline cellulose for growth and the highest growth rate was obtained at 0.999 aw. Subsequently, the compost isolates were able to grow on all substrates but the highest growth rate was obtained on CMC at 0.950 and 0.999 aw. Thus, coffee beans and composts provide T. lanuginosus isolates with various growth and hydrolytic zone rates in the range of 0.950−0.999 aw.