Production of xylanolytic enzymes by Aspergillus tamarii in solid state fermentation

Three agricultural wastes were evaluated for xylanolytic enzymes production by Aspergillus tamarii in solid stare fermentation. A high production of xylanase and beta-xylosidase was obtained in all waste materials. A high proteolytic activity was co-produced in wheat bran cultures, while a low proteolytic activity was detected in corn cob and sugar cane bagasse cultures. Optimal initial moisture contents for xylanolytic enzyme production were 86%, 80% and 75%, respectively to wheat bran, corn cob and sugar cane bagasse cultures. The addition of xylan or beta-methyl-xyloside in the cultures increased considerably the production of both xylanase and beta-xylosidase without increasing the production of protease. Neither heating, alkali nor hydrogen peroxide treatment of the milled substrate caused further improvement in enzyme production. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.