Amylase production by solid-state fermentation of corn (Zea mays) stem using fusarium and mucor

Abstract

The study aimed at producing amylase from corn stem using Mucor and Fusarium in solid-state fermentation. The fungi used in this study was isolated from the rhizosphere of the corn plant. A solid-state technique was adopted for the fermentation process using spore suspension as inoculum. Various fermentation parameters, such as incubation days, addition of salt supplement, substrate concentration, mycelia suspension and temperature were optimized during fermentation with these organisms. Results show that both organisms produced the highest amount of amylase on day 3 at 28 ± 2°C. Mucor has the highest amylase activity of 12.54 μmol/mg/min when 25g of substrate was used while Fusarium has the highest amylase activity of 13.86 μmol/mg/min when 5g of substrate was used. The optimum temperature for amylase production was observed to be 40°C at pH 8.12 for Mucor, while Fusarium exhibited optimum activity at 20°C and pH 8.34. The study concluded that corn stems are a viable substrate for amylase production using rhizosphere-derived organisms under solid-state fermentation.