Agaricus blazei as a Substrate for the Production of β-1,3-Glucanase by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai

Andréia A. J. Carneiro¹*, Ellen C. Giese², Aneli M. Barbosa³, Eleni Gomes¹ and Roberto Da Silva¹

¹São Paulo State University, UNESP, IBILCE, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Applied Microbiology, R. Cristóvão Colombo 2265, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto-SP, Brazil 
²Biorefining Research Initiative, Lakehead University, P7B5E1 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
³State University of Londrina, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rod. Celso Garcia Cid s/n, 86051-990 Londrina-PR, Brazil

Article history:
Received September 14, 2010
Accepted January 19, 2011

Keywords:
β-1,3-glucanase, medicinal mushrooms, Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, response surface methodology

Summary:
Extracellular β-1,3-glucanase was produced by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai cultivated in the Agaricus blazei (Agaricus brasiliensis) extract as a substrate in submerged fermentation. A 2²-central composite factorial design was developed using the time of culture (x₁/day) and Agaricus blazei extract concentration (x₂/(g/L)) as variables, and the results were analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the Agaricus blazei extract concentration was the most important variable in the production of β-1,3-glucanase, and the maximum β-1,3-glucanase activity (0.77 U/mL) was obtained in one day of cultivation. The β-glucan present in the cell wall of Agaricus blazei mushroom proved to be a good substrate for inducing the production of specific β-1,3-glucanase by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai.

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