Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol.44, No.3-4, 546-549, 1995
Rock Phosphate Solubilization by Aspergillus-Niger Grown on Sugar-Beet Waste Medium
Solubilization of rock phosphate by Aspergillus niger was studied in solid-state fermentation on sugar-beet waste. This combination was selected after testing three agroindustrial waste materials, namely rice hulls, sugar-beet waste and alperujo. Sugar-beet waste was the best substrate for fungal growth with 69% mineralization, followed by rice hulls and alperujo. The fungus was successfully cultivated on sugar-beet waste supplemented with 3.0 g/l rock phosphate, acidifying the medium and thus decreasing the pH to 3-3.5. Solubilization of insoluble phosphate increased during the first half of the process, reaching a maximum of 292 mu g phosphate/ml, although a part of it was probably consumed by the mycelium.
Keywords:ORGANIC-ACIDS;SOILS