UTILIZATION OF POTATO PULP AND POTATO LIQUOR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LACCASE BY SELECTED BASIDIOMYCETES

Potato processing wastes were used for the production of enzyme laccas e (polyphenol oxidase) by selected strains of Trametes villosa, T. ver sicolor and Polyporus brumalis. They were capable of utilizing these w astes as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. Maximum activities of la ccase was obtained with the optimized mixtures of 5% potato pulp and 4 % of potato liquor. Several basidiomycetes strains, when grown on pota to wastes, can synthetize alpha-amylase (e.g. Trametes villosa). The a mino acids and trace elements in pulp and liquor were analysed. Aspara gine and aspartic acid are the main constituents of amino acid fractio n of the potato liquor under the test. Cultivation of Trametes villosa on potato-starch processing wastes can be used for the inexpensive pr oduction of valuable fungal enzymes.