Mannanase Production by Aspergillus niger USM F4 Via Solid Substrate Fermentation in a Shallow Tray Using Palm Kernel Cake as a Substrate

• Main Authors: Ab Rashid, S., Che Omar, I., Ibrahim, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2012-01-01
• Series: Malaysian Journal of Microbiology
• Subjects: Antigrowth; Bio-factors; Optical density; Submerged fermentation
• Online Access: http://web.usm.my/mjm/issues/vol8no4/Research%2010.pdf

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+-2C.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.