Morphological Characterization Of Rumen Protozoa Isolated From Sweet Sorghum Hydrolysis Using Carabao (Bubalus bubalis Linn) Rumen Fluid

Abstract

This study was conducted to characterize the morphology of rumen protozoa isolated in the batch type hydrolysis of sweet sorghum using 1% fresh carabao rumen fluid with duration of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days of the novel process hydrolysis. Hydrolysis was conducted using 5% chopped sweet sorghum bagasse. Nitrogen content was augmented with 0.35 g urea per 750 ml effective volume with low speed agitation of fermentation bottle at least 20 minutes twice daily and incubated at room temperature. Characterization was limited to microscopic evaluation of the morphological features of protozoa that was stained with methylene blue formalin saline solution. Protozoon population of 2.61 x 10 4 cfu/ml at initial period had significantly lowered down at the 15 days hydrolysis to 0.62 x 104 cfu/ml. Evaluation of morphology for the types of protozoa at different durations showed the predominance of species types with different orientations of caudal spines, shapes of the macromolecules, size of the body, and presence of adoral ciliary zones were features of species types from genus Eodinium Entodinium of the family Ophryoscolecidae. Evaluation of the hydrolysis condition showed that duration had significant effect on the pH (P>0.05). Sweet sorghum hydrolysis has initial pH 7 that significantly declined to pH 5 at 15 days duration. The population of the protozoa in the rumen fluid hydrolysis was significantly affected by duration of the hydrolysis (P>0.05). Entodinium were isolated at all durations of the acidic hydrolysis of sweet sorghum bagasse using carabao rumen fluid. In conclusion, morphological characteristics of the rumen protozoan shows how diverse are the composition of rumen protozoa in the carabao rumen fluid hydrolysis. The presence of the rumen protozoa is a justification of the novel carabao rumen fluid hydrolysis conversion of lignocelluloses in sweet sorghum bagasse into soluble carbohydrates for bioethanol production. The information is vital for animal feed utilization and bioethanol production optimization.