Screening of potential strain for bioprotein production from coconut dregs

Abstract

The world’s population is currently about 6 million people, and increasing. This increase leads to an inevitable and immediate consequence like a proportional growth in the needs for food stuffs. The natural resources available on the planet are limited and only a rational and sustainable exploitation will continue to produce enough food, of sufficient quality, to satisfy the future needs of humankind. Bioprotein production is one of the most promising breakthroughs of biotechnological innovations in animal feed industry. Due to its increasing demand, the utilization of coconut dregs as a novel substrate and cheaper carbon source for production of bioprotein is found necessary for the fulfilling animal feed industry’s demand. High fiber and protein content through the incorporation of selected strain, with careful formulation through fermentation process are an important part of this exploitation, and this has, as an immediate consequence, the necessity of feed with higher nutritive value. The efficient strains, substrate and method must be used for high yield product. In this present study, screening of three different strains; Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16404), Saccharomyces cerevisiea (ATCC 9080) and Phanarochaete chrysosporium(ATCC 24725), was done for bioprotein production by solid state fermentation process. Aspergillus niger produced the highest amount of protein on the sixth day, with the amount of 427 mg/L. This study may provide a better alternative in agricultural products by converting agriculture waste to valuable and quality product bioprotein, which can be used as supplement and additive in the animal feed and food as well as in chemical and pharmaceutical industries.