BIOCONVERSION OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC AGRICULTURAL BY-PRODUCTS BY MICROORGANISMS INTO HIGH MYCOPROTEIN FEEDS

Abstract

This research study was conducted to produce high mycoprotein feeds (HMPF) from lignocellulosic agricultural by-products through solid-substrate-fermentation. Six species of fungi were used as fermenting organisms and four agricultural wastes as substrates. The nutrient composition of the fermented wastes was determined through proximate analysis. Results of the study showed that the three macrofungi Pleurotus spp., Ganoderma spp., and Psilocybe spp. and the three microfungi Aspergillus spp1, Trichoderma spp., and Aspergillus spp2 were capable of producing HMPF through solid-substrate-fermentation of lignocellulosic agricultural by-products. Further, banana leaves, rice straw, corn cob and sugarcane bagasse are candidate substrates for the production of HMPF. Proximate analysis revealed that the crude protein (CP) of the fermented banana leaves obtained a four- to five-fold increase (24.41%-28.16%) in CP while an eight to nine-fold increase (19.66%-22.63%) in corn cobs after fermentation. The fermented sugarcane bagasse attained 11- to 13-fold (21.37%-25.83%) rise in the CP content while the fermented rice straw obtained two to five-fold increase (18.88%-29.51%) in the CP content. The ash contents (ACs) of the fermented products likewise increased while the crude fiber (CFr) and crude fat (CF) of the lignocellulosic agricultural by-products decreased after fermentation. The present results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing lignocellulosic agricultural-wastes as substrates of fungal organisms to produce high protein feeds for animals.