PRODUCTION OF ALPHA-GALACTOSIDASE BY THERMOPHILIC FUNGUS HUMICOLA SP.IN SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION AND ITS APPLICATION IN SOYAMILK HYDROLYSIS

Humicola sp., a thermophilic fungus, was used for the production of ex tracellular a-galactosidase on various agricultural residues in solid- state fermentation (SSF). Maximum enzyme activity (44.6 U/g of origina l substrate) was produced when soya flour was used as carbon source at 45 degrees C. The enzyme produced hydrolyzed raffinose and stachyose from soymilk within 2 h at 50 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies showed a high density growth of fungal mycelia on wheat bran particles during solid-state fermentation. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.