Abstract
The utility of fungal degradation of cane bagasse was appreciated to upgrade it for animal feed after pasteurization with 10 kGy of radiation. Solid-state culture media from alkali-treated bagasse were prepared by an addition of some amounts of inorganic salts as nitrogen source. Initial pH of solid-state media is needed to adjust at 4.0-5.0 for the optimum growth of fungi. The degradation of crude fiber by Coprinus cinereus, Pleurotus species, Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma koningi, and T. viride was obtained as 32 to 56% after one month cultivation. C. cinereus could degradate crude fiber more than 40%, even on alkali non-treated bagasse at the same cultivation condition. Release of reducing sugars was obtained as 76 to 196 mg glucose/g after saccharification of precultivated bagasse by C. ctinereus, A. niger, T. koningi and T. viride.
