Tannase Production by Trichoderma Species in Tannin Containing Medium as a Sole Carbon and Energy Source

This study investigated tannase production by Trichoderma viride (Tv), Trichoderma harzianum (Th), Trichoderma longibrachiatum (Tl) and Trichoderma ressei (Tr) in the medium containing tannin as sole carbon and energy source. Morphologic characteristic of Trichoderma species (T) were determined in culture containing malt-yeast-glucose. Trichoderma species were cultured in Trichoderma fermentation medium (TFM) which contained 1% Tanic acid. The weights of proteins produced by T in TFM were determined by SDS PAGE. Trichoderma colonies were flat, and then gradually showed white unsmooth appearance and finally turned to green. The largest and smallest spores were belonged to Tl and Tr, respectively. The highest and lowest spore numbers in MYG were belonged Th (5.48 × 106) and Tv (12.26 × 106), respectively. The largest growth rate of mycelium was observed in Tl and the lowest in Tr (1.25 and 0.45 cm/d, respectively). The level of protein produced in TFM by Tr was lower (P<0.05) than the other species. The tannase production and its specific activity were similar across species. The enzyme specific activity in Tl was significantly more (P<0.05) than Tv (1.33 and 0.68 ul/mg protein). The molecular weight of the produced tannase was 131 kDa with two subunits weighing approximately 62 and 69 kDa. The results showed that Trichoderma species have the ability to grow and produce tannase in the medium containing tannin as the sole carbon and energy source.