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Abstract
<p class="first" id="d3698675e83">Solid-state fermentation using rice husk as substrate
with either Beauveria bassiana
or Trichoderma harzianum was conducted on batch reactors at laboratory scale to establish
optimal conditions for spore production. Time course tests were performed to determine
maximum spore production time, which was 7.7 days for Beauveria bassiana and 5.7 days
for Trichoderma harzianum. The effect of moisture, inoculum concentration, airflow
rate, temperature and C/N ratio on spore production was evaluated by two Box-Behnken
experimental designs. Final spore concentrations ranged from 2.0 × 108 to 2.0 × 109 spores g-1
dry matter. Main factors influencing spore production were moisture (optimum values
of 55-60% for Trichoderma harzianum and 65-70 for Beauveria bassiana) and temperature
(25 °C). The effect of mixing enhanced Trichoderma harzianum spore production while
influencing negatively in the case of Beauveria bassiana. Robustness of the process
has been demonstrated through statistical analysis using box-plots.
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