Starch industry wastewater as a substrate for antagonist, Trichoderma viride production

Starch industry wastewater was investigated to assess and improve its potential as a raw material for the conidia production of biocontrol fungi, Trichoderma viride. The wastewater was tested with and without supplements of glucose, soluble starch, meat peptone and probable conidiation inducer chemicals in shake flask culture. Addition of complex carbon source (soluble starch, 1% and 2% w/v) produced maximum conidia (≈3.02 and 4.2 × 1010 CFU/mL, respectively). On the other hand, glucose addition as a simpler carbon source was either ineffective or, reduced conidia production (from 1.6 × 108 in control to 3.0 × 107 CFU/mL in 5% w/v glucose supplement). Supplement of nitrogen source showed a small increase of conidia concentration. Propionic, maleic and humic acids, EDTA, pyridine, glycerol and CaCO3 were examined as probable conidiation inducers and showed effect only on initial rate of conidiation with no increase in final conidia concentration. Intra and extracellular ATP correlation with spore production showed dependence on growth media used and conidia concentration at the end of fermentation. Addition of carbon and nitrogen sources showed an increase in protease activity (from 0.4985 to 2.43 IU/mL) and entomotoxicity (from 10448 to 12335 spruce budworm unit (SBU)/μL). Entomotoxicity was improved by 11% in fermenter over shake flask when starch industry wastewater was supplemented with meat peptone.