Characterization of growth and sporulation of Mucor bacilliformis in solid state fermentation on an inert support

The growth and sporulation of Mucor bacilliformis on an inert solid support (polyurethane foam) were studied at different conditions of water content and nutrient concentration. Maximum biomass (0.59 g/ginert support) and spore production (6 × 108 spores/ginert support) were obtained for the highest water content (90%, w/w) and the most concentrated medium studied. The growth, CO2 production and carbon source consumption of M. bacilliformis were modeled using the logistic model and the linear growth model of Pirt, and estimates of the kinetic parameters were obtained. Maximum specific growth rates (μmax) were determined from the biomass and CO2 data using the exponential and logistic model. The exponential model gave higher μmax values than the logistic model. Yield coefficients (YX/CO2YX/CO2), maintenance (mCO2/XmCO2/X) and endogenous decay coefficients (ke) were also determined.