Growth Assessment and Amylase Production by Aspergillus niger and A. terreus Isolated from Soils of Artemisia Annua l. Plantation

Abstract

Fungi associated with soils of decomposing Artemisia annua L. process waste in an A. annua Plantation were studied. Two of the isolates, A. niger and A. terreus which had high frequencies of occurrence were assessed for their growth rates over an incubation period of 168hrs using Czapek Dox and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar media. Their abilities to produce glucoamylase of biotechnological importance using submerged fermentation (SmF) were studied. The two isolates grown in basal medium containing starch as sole source of carbon and were harvested at 24 hour intervals over a period of 168hours. A. niger and A. terreus were found to have colony diameters of 5.2cm and 5cm after the 7th day of incubation. The highest glucoamylase potential at pH 5.03 was demonstrated by A. terreus, with peak enzyme activity of 0.375mmol-L while that of A. niger was 0.281mmol-L on the 6th day of incubation. These two fungal species could be useful in the degradation of biological wastes.