Semisolid Fermentation of Ryegrass Straw

Candida utilis, Aureobasidium pullulans, andTrichoderma viride were grown on pretreated ryegrass straw. The pretreatment consisted of hydrolysis of straw with 0.5 N H2 SO4 (water-substrate, 3:1) at 121 C, 100 C, and room temperature and adjustment of the hydrolysate to pH 4.5 to 5.0 with 5 N NH4 OH. The 121 C pretreatment yielded a material containing 30% sugar and 2.3% N. The fermentation was carried on semisolid substrate (moisture level, 75%) in rotating jars for 2 to 3 days at room temperature. The organisms grew rapidly during the period from 18 to 42 h of incubation. During this period the number of microbial cells increased by 20- to 200-fold, and the level of NH3 -N decreased from 1.3 to 0.9%. The fermentation resulted in a fourfold increase in protein, fivefold increase in crude fat, and 40% increase in the digestibility of straw. The best result in terms of increasing protein and digestibility of straw was obtained whenC. utilis was grown on straw preheated at 121 C.