Mannanase production by Aspergillus niger USM F4 via solid substrate fermentation in a shallow tray using palm kernel cake as a substrate

Aims: A local fungal isolate, Aspergillus niger USM F4 produced high level of mannanase activity when cultivated in a shallow tray system (45 x 40 x 7 cm3) using palm kernel cake (PKC), an easily available cheap agricultural waste which are found abundantly in Malaysia. Methodology and Results: A range of 0.25 to 1.5 cm bed heights were investigated in tracking in the most suitable condition and maximum production of mannanase. The highest mannanase production of 918.68 U/g substrate was obtained on the fifth day of cultivation after using all the optimised cultural conditions that consisted of 400 g of PKC that equivalent to 0.50 cm of substrate thickness with the particle size of ≤ 0.5 mm, moisture content of 80% (w/w) with the addition of 2% (w/w) molasses as a carbon source and 4% (w/w) ammonium nitrate as a nitrogen source, inoculums size of 1x107 spores/ml, with once at every 24 h of mixing frequency and cultivation temperature at room temperature 30±2 °C. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The results obtained from this study showed that a shallow tray system was suitable to be used for getting highest enzyme production in SSF. Besides using a bigger volume of substrate, the correct substrate bed height is also important.

Anti-Growth Factors Associated with Pleurotus ostreatus in a Submerged Liquid Fermentation

Aims: Previous studies had revealed that cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus is often met with a lot of challenges ranging from environmental to biological factors which adversely affect the successful cultivation of the mushroom. Hence, a need to determine factors against mycelia colonization of substrate during mushroom’s cultivation. Methodology and Result: Conventional streak method was employed to establish the percentage inhibition as well as intercolony distance between the test organisms obtained from the infected substrate and mycelia of the mushroom during substrate colonization. The test organisms are: a fungus, Kutilakesopsis macalpineae and a bacterium, Pseudomonas tolaasii. The effect of pH and temperature on the mycelia growth of P. ostreatus was also investigated. There was a gradual increase in the percentage inhibition from 33.3 % at 24 h to 75.0 % at 168 h for K. macalpineae and 37.5 % at 24 h to 70.0 at 168 h for P. tolaasii. The inter-colony distance between the antagonists and the mushroom mycelium gradually decreased. Optical density of the mycelium growth was at its optimum at pH 4.5 and temperature of 25 °C respectively. In vitro study also showed a significant increase in the optical density from 0.855±0.03 at 24 h to 1.316±0.02 at 168 h in the absence of test antagonist as against 0.812±0.06 and 0.79±0.02 at 24 h to 1.103±0.03 and 0.902±0.03 at 168 h when K. macalpineae and P.tolaasii were used as test antagonistic respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Sterilization of substrate is essential to avoid contamination during mycelia colonization. Also, slightly acidic medium and temperature control is necessary for high yield of fruit bodies.