Effects of heat and microbiological pretreatments of wheat straw substrate on the initial phase of solid state fermentation (SSF) by white rot fungi

Summary

Quantitative differentiation of microbial activity and saprophytic colonisation in wheat straw substrate during SSF is described. Wheat straw contains an active indigenous microbial flora. In both untreated and heat pretreated substrates a peak of microbial respiratory activities occurs generally after 24 h of fermentation; addition of actidione and streptomycin has no marked inhibitory effect. Quantitative differences between endogenous microbial respiration and respiration byPleurotus during the initial four days of SSF are least in the heat pretreated substrates and greater when microbiological pretreatment is used. In treatments subjected to 48 h anaerobic fermentation at 50°C, saprophytic colonization similar to that observed in sterile substrates is obtained.