Induction and repression patterns of tannase production by Aspergillus niger Aa-20 in solid-state (SSC) and submerged culture (SmC) were established. Tannic acid and glucose were used as carbon sources. Induction and repression ratios were obtained with different concentrations of tannic acid and glucose, respectively. Tolerance to high concentrations of tannic acid by A. niger Aa-20 was lower in SmC than in SSC. In SSC an increase in tannic acid enhanced the expression of tannase activity. The addition of glucose(> 20 gl(-1)) resulted in strong catabolite repression in SmC system. The tannase/biomass yield in SSC was at least 2 times higher than in SmC. The results presented demonstrate the capacity of SSC to minimize catabolite repression. The role of gallic acid in tannase regulation was also studied. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.