SOLID-STATE PRODUCTION OF BENEFICIAL FUNGI ON APPLE PROCESSING WASTESUSING GLUCOSAMINE AS THE INDICATOR OF GROWTH

Three Trichoderma species, a Penicillium species, and a Rhizopus speci es were grown on apple pomace at 25 degrees C through solid-state ferm entation. The effects of CaCO3, water, and nitrogen sources on the gro wth of selected fungi on apple pomace were investigated. Soluble prote in and glucosamine contents of fermented pomace were measured as the p arameters of fungal growth. The maximum growth of all fungi was establ ished on apple pomace supplemented with 0.05 g of CaCO3, 2 mL of water , and 0.05 g of NH4NO3 or 0.3 mL of fish protein hydrolysate per gram of pomace. The optimal water activity of the medium for fungal growth was 0.96 at 25 degrees C. This research has provided a clear indicatio n for using glucosamine as a proper indicator of fungal growth in hete rogeneous solid-state systems. It also shows potentials for bioconvers ion of apple processing wastes by beneficial fungi into valuable bioin oculants that are being targeted for agricultural and environmental ap plications.