Cost-effective multiplication of the entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi (F) Samson
Cost-effective and rapid multiplication of Nomuraea rileyi is reported. The spore yields in semi-synthetic media were comparable or significantly higher to the standard medium. Maltose and peptone, carbon and nitrogen sources could be effectively replaced with 2% barley extract and 1% soybean extract respectively. However, replacement of yeast extract with dry yeast resulted in lower spore yields. Sporulation of the fungus multiplied on solid substrate was possible only when the bags used had a 0.2 μm filter to facilitate passive exchange of sterile air. A high spore yield of 2.8 × 109/g of substrate was realized on crushed sorghum.
Fermentation alcohol from grain sorghum starch
Abstract Grain sorghum is an attractive agricultural feedstock for ethanol production because of its high starch content and the fact that it is more drought-resistant than other cereal crops such as maize. The popular bird-proof grain sorghum variety was investigated. This was subjected to a chemical pretreatment to remove the polyphenolic compounds prior to starch hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation. Starch hydrolysis was accomplished with a commercial α-amylase for liquefaction and amyloglucosidase for saccharification. Depending on the saccharification conditions, the hydrolysate contained 65 to 128 g litre−1 glucose with corresponding maltose concentrations of 50 to 20 g litre−1. Several yeast strains were evaluated for their ability to ferment maltose. The total saccharification plus fermentation time could be shortened substantially by inoculating after a brief saccharification period. The addition of ammonium chloride to the hydrolysate improved the fermentation rate. From a 30% grain sorghum slurry an ethanol concentration of over 12% (v/v) was obtained, which was 84% of the theoretical maximum. The data indicated that about 380 litres of ethanol could be produced per ton grain sorghum.
Enzyme inhibition by polyphenols of sorghum grain and malt
Enzyme production and activity in malt produced from birdproof sorghum cultivars were unaffected by the endogenous polyphenols present in the testa and nucellar layer of the grain. When the rigid segregation of tissues and substances in the malt grain is disrupted by milling, the polyphenols inhibit the endogenous enzymes in aqueous suspensions and reduce the brewing value of the ground malt. Sorghum beer made from malt of birdproof cultivars did not taste bitter. Bird-proof sorghum cultivars differ widely in content and quality of polyphenols inhibiting enzymes. Enzymatic methods are proposed to determine the inhibiting fractions of the polyphenols in sorghum grain. The results of these methods correlate well with DMF-extractable polyphenols assayed by ferric ammonium citrate in alkaline medium. The merits of enzymatic and chemical methods to determine biologically active polyphenols are discussed. Suggestions to protect the brewing industry against unsuitable grain sorghum cultivars of the birdproof class are made.