Process Biotechnology
 

Microbial Biotechnology

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 12 No. 3, Issue of July 15, 2009
© 2009 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received August 8, 2008 / Accepted May 15, 2009
DOI: 10.2225/vol12-issue3-fulltext-6
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Influence of buffer systems on Trichoderma reesei Rut C-30 morphology and cellulase production

Susana M. P. Ferreira
Unit of Textile and Paper Materials
Universidade da Beira Interior
Rua Marquês d'Ávila e Bolama
6201 - 001 Covilhã, Portugal

Ana P. Duarte
Unit of Textile and Paper Materials
Universidade da Beira Interior
Rua Marquês d'Ávila e Bolama
6201 - 001 Covilhã, Portugal

João A. Queiroz
Unit of Textile and Paper Materials
Universidade da Beira Interior
Rua Marquês d'Ávila e Bolama
6201 - 001 Covilhã, Portugal

Fernanda C. Domingues*
Unit of Textile and Paper Materials
Universidade da Beira Interior
Rua Marquês d'Ávila e Bolama
6201 - 001 Covilhã, Portugal

Tel: 351 275 319 827
Fax: 351 275 319 730
E-mail: fdomingues@ubi.pt

*Corresponding author

Financial support: Instituto de Financiamento e Apoio ao Desenvolvimento da Agricultura e das Pescas (IFADAP) Project 2006.09.001055.1.

Keywords: buffer systems, cellulase, fungal morphology, submerged cell growth, Trichoderma reesei Rut C-30.

Abbreviations:

DNS: 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid
FPU: filter paper unit

Abstract   Full Text

The cellulase enzyme production is a key issue in the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. Since fungal morphology influences the productivity of fungal fermentations, it is of major importance to well know the fungal behavior during culture for cellulase production. In this work, the influence of medium supplementation, with different buffer systems at two different concentrations and pH conditions, on the morphology of T. reesei Rut C-30 and cellulase production, was investigated. A medium without buffer was used as control. The results suggest that fungal morphology is significantly dependent on the addition of different buffer systems to the nutrient broth. The mycelial morphology shows a clear transition from clumped to pelleted forms in cultures with variation of buffer systems and concentration. The higher filter paper activity was obtained using 100 mM succinate buffer, at pH 4.8, in the medium supplementation, corresponding to a dispersed mycelial morphology.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network