Co-culturing of micro- and macro-fungi for producing highly active enzyme cocktail for producing biofuels

Abstract

Mesocarp fiber (MF) and oil palm decanter cake (OPDC) are inexpensive substrates from oil palm refineries with potential to reduce fungal enzyme costs. This work demonstrated the producing enzymes method from mono- and co-cultures of micro- and macro-fungi cultured in MF or OPDC. Macrofungal species evaluated include Panus lecomtei, Trametes versicolor, Schizophyllum commune, Coprinus sp., Chrysosporium lucknowense, and Laetisaria arvalis. Secreted enzyme activities from individually cultured macrofungal strains were compared with Trichoderma reesei enzymes. Fungi co-culturing were evaluated in plates and submerged fermentation. Enzyme cocktail produced by co-culturing T. reesei and P. lecomtei exhibited higher laccase, peroxidases, hemicellulase and cellulase activities. Pretreated sugarcane bagasse (PSB) saccharification, with co-cultured enzyme cocktail, produced 12.3 g.L−1 of glucose, which was 44.7% higher when compared with T. reesei that produced 8.5 g.L−1. This work is the first to report co-culturing fungi to produce superior enzymes cocktail from OPDC that will benefit future lignocellulosic biorefinery.