This manuscript describes the analysis of the effect of cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, xylan and xylose as inducers of cellulase and xylanase activity production by Ganoderma applanatum MR-56 and the optimization of their production in liquid cultures by statistical methods. The Plackett-Burman screening design was applied to identify the most significant inducers of xylanase and cellulase activities production by G. applanatum MR-56. The most significant effect on xylanase and cellulase activities production was exercised by cellulose, even if xylose and CMC were also effective at some times. The combined effect of cellulose, yeast extract and pH was analyzed by a 23 factorial experimental design with four central points that showed that the maximum tested cellulose (1 % w/v) and yeast extract (5 g L-1) concentrations gave the maximum production of xylanase (8.24 U mL-1) and cellulase (3.29 U mL-1) activity at pH 6 and 4, respectively. These values achieved for cellulase and xylanase activity represent 12-25 fold and 36 fold higher values than the maximum so far reported for other strains of G. applanatum, respectively.