OPTIMIZATION OF GROWTH AND HYDROLYTIC ENZYMES PRODUCTION BY FUSARIUM-CULMORUM USING RESPONSE-SURFACE METHOD

Production of hydrolytic enzymes by a phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium culmorum was investigated. The proteolytic activity was observed when the fungus was grown in the medium containing starch or soybean meal a s a carbon source. The amylolytic and lipolytic activities were not fo und. Response surface modeling was applied to shake-flask culture of t he fungus to determine the optimum concentration of carbon source and optimal culture time for growth and protease production. The results i ndicated that the maximum yield of protease production corresponded to the concentration of soybean meal of 1.4 g/ml and culture time of 4.5 days. The fungus growth depends on the concentration of carbon source in the medium whereas the enzyme production was also influenced by th e culture time and interaction between these two variables.