Effect of Different Cultural Conditions for Phytase Production by Aspergillus niger in Submerged Fermentation

In agriculture, phytase is one of the most important monogastric animal sources of nutrient components because it effectively catalyzes the release of phosphate from phytate and phosphorylated compounds. In present work, Aspergillus niger strain (own collection) was used. Various physical and chemical factors have been known to affect the growth and the production of phytase. The effect of carbon and nitrogen sources, temperature and pH for extra cellular phytase production was investigated. Maximal phytase activity of Aspergillus niger was detected in media with 1.0% sucrose as a carbon source. Among the inorganic and organic nitrogen sources, ammonium nitrate in concentration of 0.5% was found to be a favorable nitrogen source for phytase production in Aspergillus niger. Optimum temperature and pH for phytase production by Aspergillus niger were 30 ̊C and 5.5.


Introduction
Parts of the major components of poultry fodder are wheat, soybean meal, corn, which serve as an indispensable source of protein, carbohydrates, calcium and phosphorus.However, those substances are contained in fodder in the form of complex indigestible conglomerates bound by complex organic compounds-phytates and cannot be digested by birds.The bioavailability of phytate phosphorus can be increased by supplementation of the diet with the phytase enzyme.Recently, phytases have been of interest for biotechnological applications, as environment friendly feed additives in feed manufacturing industry.Due to the inability of poultry to produce own phytase the availability of phosphorus, calcium, protein and other nutrients is limited.Enrichment of the diet by phytase increases availability of phytate protein, phosphorus, calcium, zinc and copper, improves digestibility and stimulates weight gain [1]- [3].
Phytases are found naturally in plants and microorganisms.Despite the fact that among microorganisms that produce phytase there are bacteria, fungi, yeast and actinomycetes in the recent period micromycets got wide application, particularly Aspergillus fungi because of high productivity [4].However, great drawback of industrial fungal strains is their low activity, despite the fact that the essential requirement to enzymes is their high activity.The production of phytase enzymes have been affected by a variety of physicochemical factors, such as the composition of the growth medium, the type of strain, cell growth, methods of cultivation, inoculum concentration, time of incubation, pH, temperature, salinity, carbon, nitrogen and mineral sources [5]- [7].Present investigation involves studies on the effect of carbon and nitrogen sources, temperature and pH on the production of phytase enzyme by Aspergillus niger in submerged fermentation.

Phytase Assay
Phytase enzyme was determined by spectrophotometric method [8]. A. niger isolate was cultivated for 72 h at 30˚C on cultivation medium.

Effect of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources.
Different pure carbon sources (e.g.glucose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, fructose and xylose) with concentration of 1.5% were added to basal medium replacing sucrose (control) to analyze their effect on phytase production.Enzyme production was optimized by using different organic and inorganic nitrogen sources such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, peptone and yeast extract with concentration of 0.5% incorporated in basal medium replacing ammonium sulfate (control).

Effect of Temperature
The sterile cultivation medium (100 mL) was prepared in different Erlenmeyer flask and inoculated with 2% inoculum.Each flask was incubated at different temperatures from 10˚C to 50˚C for 72 h on a shaker (220 rpm).The enzyme activity of supernatant was estimated.

Effect of pH
The sterile production medium (100 mL) was adjusted to different pH from 2.5 to 9.5 using 0.1N NaOH and 0.1N HCl.Each Erlenmeyer flask was inoculated with 2% fungal inoculum.The flasks were incubated at 30˚C for 72 h on a shaker (220 rpm).The enzyme activity of supernatant was estimated.

Effect of Different Carbon Sources on Phytase Production by Aspergillus niger
The results indicated that among the various (fructose, maltose, glucose, xylose, lactose and sucrose) carbon sources used for phytase production, sucrose is a suitable carbon source for maximal phytase activity of 2.1 U/ml (Figure 1).All other monosaccharides and disaccharides used had less effect on phytase production (enzymatic activity ranged from 0.8 to 1.6 U/ml).This indicates that sucrose is the most efficient source for phytase production by A. niger.
The effect of different concentration of sucrose on phytase production was studied using sucrose in the range of 0.25% to 2% (Figure 2).Sucrose at 1.0% concentration was found to support maximal phytase activity (2.6 U/ml).

Effect of Different Nitrogen Sources on Phytase Production by Aspergillus niger
The result obtained through the studies on the effect of inorganic and organic nitrogen sources on Aspergillus niger phytase production in submerged fermentation is shown in Figure 3.
Among the various nitrogen sources such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, yeast extract and peptone used for phytase production, ammonium nitrate supported phytase production in A. niger with enzymatic activity of 2.9 U/ml.All other nitrogen sources used had less effect on phytase production with enzymatic activity ranged from 1.8 to 2.7 U/ml.
The various concentration of ammonium nitrate (0.25% -2.0%) have been used for the phytase production in submerged fermentation (Figure 4).It was found that 0.5% ammonium nitrate has given the highest enzymatic activity (2.9 U/ml).

Effect of Temperature on Phytase Production by Aspergillus niger
The effect of physical parameters like temperature and pH on phytase production was investigated.The effect of temperature on phytase activity was determined by incubating the flask at a range of temperature of 10˚C -50˚C.
The results of the test made at different temperatures value showed that the optimal temperature for phytase production by A. niger was between 25˚C and 35˚C (Figure 5).

Effect of pH on Phytase Production by Aspergillus niger
To evaluate the effects of pH on phytase production, the pH values were adjusted by the addition of HCl or NaOH to 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, and 9.5.The optimum pH for phytase production was found to be 5.5 (Figure 6).The enzyme activity gradually increased when increasing the pH up to the optimum.It was also noted that the enzyme activity was stable at pH range of 4.5 -7.5.
Thus, among the different nitrogen and carbon sources tested 0.5% ammonium nitrate and 1.0% sucrose were found to be good nitrogen and carbon sources for phytase production.Optimum temperature and pH for phytase production by A. niger are 30˚C and 5.5.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Effect of carbon sources on phytase production by A. niger in submerged fermentation.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on phytase production by A. niger.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3.Effect of nitrogen sources on phytase production by A. niger in submerged fermentation.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Effect of different concentrations of ammonium nitrate on phytase production by A. niger.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5.Effect of temperature on phytase production by Aspergillus niger.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Effect of pH on phytase production by Aspergillus niger.