BIOCONVERSION AND ENZYMATIC ACTIVITIES OF NEUROSPORA SITOPHILA GROWN UNDER SOLID STATE AND SUBMERGED FERMENTATION ON SAGO HAMPS (RESEARCH NOTE)

N.sitophila was grown under controlled conditions of solid state and submerged fermentation on Sago hampas. The optimum conditions of protein enrichment previously established for sugar beet pulp was used for this study. Under this condition the protein content of Sago hampas under solid state increased from 1.4 to 14.45% (W/W) whereas for Sago hampas and Sago starch, the protein content under submerged condition increased from 1.4%(W/W) and 0.7%(W/W) to 18.56%(W/W) and 43/16%(W/W) based on dry weisht of product respectively. The cellulase, a-amylase and glucoamylase activities of N.sitophila under solid state condition on Sago hampas were 9.0, 0.6 and 11.8 U/g of wet fermented solid respectively. The enzymatic activities were also measured under submerged fermentation using both Sago hampas and Sago starch as substrate.