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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Design of Solid-State Fermentation Systems for Polymer Hydrolytic Extracellular Enzyme Production by Filamentous Fungi
Published on: June 6, 2025
Enzyme production by solid substrate fermentation of Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor on tomato pomace
Donata Iandolo1, Alessandra Piscitelli, Giovanni Sannia
1Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, via Cintia 4, Naples, Italy.
Abstract:
A process of solid state fermentation (SSF) on tomato pomace was developed with the white-rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor, using sorghum stalks as support. Operative parameters (humidity, water activity, and size of substrate particles) guaranteeing a good colonization of tomato pomace by both fungi were defined and conditions for production at high titers of the industrially relevant enzymes laccase, xylanase and protease were identified. Significant laccase activity levels (up to 36 U g(-1) dry matter) were achieved without any optimization of culture conditions, neither by nutrient addition nor by O(2) enrichment. Furthermore, protease activity levels up to 34,000 U g(-1) dry matter were achieved, being higher than those reported for the fungi typically considered as the best protease producers such as Aspergillus strains. Moreover, as one of the most significant results of this study, analysis of P. ostreatus tomato SSF samples by zymogram revealed two bands with laccase activity which had not been detected so far.
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