MICROBIAL ENZYMATIC PRODUCTION OF FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES FROM SUCROSE IN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTJAYALAKSHMI J., A. MOHAMED SADIQA AND V. SIVAKUMARBAbstract Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) derived from sucrose by microbial enzyme Fructosyltransferase (FTase) especially from fungal sources has received particular attention due to its beneficial effects such as prebiotics, low calorific, non-cariogenic, bifidogenic and its mass production. This work is aimed to maximize the fructooligosaccharide production from cheap agricultural harvests instead of using expensive commercial sucrose. Cheaper alternatives carbon (sucrose) sources selected for this study were Banana, Banana peel, Papaya and Cane molasses. Fungal strain Penicillium citrinum is having higher Fructosyltransferase activity was collected from sugarcane mill. This fungus was fermented in four fermentation medium containing four selected carbon sources. The activity of FTase was estimated by DNS method at regular intervals. It was found that Banana peel and Cane molasess shows significantly (p<0.002) higher activity when compared to control. For the industrial production, Banana peel and cane molasses would be a promising cheaper alternative carbon sources for FOS production. |