ABSTRACT
The production lytic enzymes and the generation of spores are critical in the effectiveness of Trichoderma asperellum as a biological pest controller. Forced aeration of wet air has been applied into the solid-state fermentation system in order to improve both enzyme and biomass production. In finalizing the production proceeding, water from the fermented matter should be removed because maintaining water availability could be detrimental to the shelf life of the product. Therefore, the application of a forced aeration of dry air after 48 h of the culture process until the end (140 h) was evaluated. In the present study, a dry fermented matter from Trichoderma asperellum was produced by solid-state fermentation. The source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy were provided by a blend of sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran, potato flour, chitin, and olive oil. Cultures were performed employing glass columns as bioreactors and applying an initial aeration rate of 50 ml min−1 (2 mL min−1g−1) with wet air and 100 ml min−1 (4 mL min−1g−1) with dry air. The effect of dry air on the production of spores and lytic enzymes (cellulases, chitinase, amylase, and lipase) was determined. The dry process yielded chitinase (6.60 U/g (31.22 U/g), lipase (3.48 U/g), amylase (5.51 U/g), endoglucanase (12.48 U/g), and exoglucanase (3.30 U/g), and also a spore production of 5.58 × 109 spores/g.
