Enhancement of the growth and MnP production of Phanerochaete chrysosporium using knotted cotton-thread carriers

Knotted cotton-threads were used to increase the growth and production of ligninolytic enzymes of white rot fungi that is a prerequisite for using white rot fungi to degrade the pollutants. The effects of these carriers on the growth and manganese peroxidase (MnP) production of P. chrysosporium were investigated in agitated Erlenmerer flasks. The results show that the biomass in the immobilized culture was 2 times that in a suspended culture with rapid consumption of the glucose in the immobilized culture. The immobilization also enhanced the fungi growth stability. In addition, MnP activity was detectable in the immobilized culture on the 3rd day with more than 3.5 times the MnP yield in the immobilized culture than in suspended culture. Thus, the knotted cotton-thread carriers are valuable in promoting the growth and MnP production of white rot fungi.