Lipase production in submerged culture by four lipolytic filamentous fungi strains using soybean oil as only carbon and energy source was studied. Biomass concentrations between 12 and 20 mg/mL were achieved, with growth yields between 0,65 and 1,08, indicating that the composition of the medium and the carbon source used were satisfactory. The lipolytic enzyme activity was evaluated at pH 4,8 and 7, showing two peaks of activity, at 48 and 120 h, respectively. The selected strains with the highest enzymatic activity at 48 h were at pH 4,8 the ML5-32 and ML6-35 (580 and 584 U/L, respectively) and at pH 7,0 the MS2-8 (545 U/L), which showed appropriated results to continue with their study towards its potential industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]