Use of chitin measurement to estimate fungal biomass in solid state fermentation

Twenty-two strains of twelve species of Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes were studied. Most of them had a variable glucosamine amount (standard deviation higher than 5%). However, if we consider that the amount of glucosamine is constant, the accuracy of the method remains satisfactory (10% instead of 5%, which is the accuracy of the chitin hydrolysis and colorimetric glucosamine measurement). So, by means of this measurement, the fungal growth kinetics could be followed on different solid media (vegetable material such as sugar beet pulp and sponge or mineral like clay granules) used. It is important to note that this method should not be used to compare different media without calibration.