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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #64687
Title: COMPARISON OF ALGINATE AND "PESTA" FOR FORMULATION OF PHANEROCHAETE CHRYSOSPORIUM

Author
item BENNETT, JOAN - TULANE UNIVERSITY
item TURNER, A - TULANE UNIVERSITY
item LOOMIS, A - TULANE UNIVERSITY
item Connick Jr, William

Submitted to: Biotechnology Letters
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Restoring the environmental quality of toxic waste sites is an important obligation. Naturally occuring, living organisms like fungi can accomplish this but very little has been done to develop practical formulations. Products based on wheat flour inhibited a Phanerochaete fungus but worked with an Alternaria fungus. Granular products based on alginate, a component of seaweed, that contained both types of fungi were stable for at least one month and allowed fungal growth to occur. These granules will be tested further for their ability to degrade toxic chemicals.

Technical Abstract: Alginate and wheat gluten ("Pesta") matrices were compared for the encapsulation of the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. "Pesta" granules were not successful for formulating P. Chrysosporium although control granules made with Alternaria alternata yielded viable fungal colonies; the gluten in wheat flour apparently inhibits growth of the white rot fungus. P. Chrysosporium formulated in alginate with corn cob grits or saw dust, and stored at room temperature, yielded over 50% viability of encapsulated mycelia after six months. Alginate encapsulation offers a promising technology for the delivery of white rot fungi to toxic waste sites.