EXOENZYME SYNTHESIS BY NATIVE MICROFLORA FROM BANANA WASTES THROUGH SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION

Investigation carried out to study the suitability of employing fruit stalk as a solid substrate for industrial enzyme production revealed t hat during solid state fermentation by native microflora, a maximal of 32,800 Units of alpha-amylase, 380 Units of protease and 90 Units of cellulase per Kg of banana fruit stalk waste could be recovered. Analy sis showed that during the course of fermentation, the moisture conten t increased from 88.9% to reach the maximum of 92.8%, protein from 0.5 % to 0.9%, and the initial pH varied between 6.2 and 11.2 at the end o f 8 days. Total and reducing sugar contents were 0.9% as against the i nitial values of 8.7% and 2.4%, respectively. The crude fibre content dropped to 0.42% from 0.8%, crude fat content to 0.07% from an initial value of 0.1%, and mineral matter to 0.4% from 0.6% the end of fermen tation. The total Heterotrophic Bacterial population showed progressiv e increase from 8.9 x 10(8)/g to 12.0 x 10(8)/g after 4 days but decre ased to 6.8 x 10(8)/g at the end of 8 days of fermentation.