The effect of the interaction of varying chicken manure supplement levels with three different solid sisal wastes substrates on sporocarp cap lengths and diameters, stipe lengths and diameters and dry weights of C. cinereus(Schaeff)S.Gray s.lat

The effect of the interaction of varying chicken manure supplement levels with three different solid sisal wastes substrates on sporocarp cap lengths and diameters, stipe lengths and diameters and dry weights of Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff) S. Gray s.lat Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff) S. Gray s.lat is an indigenous Tanzanian edible and medicinal mushroom, which grows in the wild on decomposed sisal wastes heaps. In the laboratory, it was cultivated on three types of sisal wastes substrates each supplemented with varying chicken manure concentrations 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% using solid-state fermentation bioreactors. The results showed that the interaction of sisal dust, sisal fibres and sisal decortications leaves wastes substrates with chicken  manure at varying concentrations, produced a highly significant effect (p < 0.05) on cap lengths and diameters, stipe lengths and diameters and dry weights of C. cinereus (Schaeff) S. Gray s.lat. The interactions of sisal dust waste with 5% chicken manure concentration induced longest mean cap length and widest mean cap diameter. On the other hand, the interaction of sisal leaves decortications wastes with 25% chicken manure  concentration produced heaviest sporocarps mean dry weight. These findings for the first time illustrate importance of chicken manure supplementation in C. cinereus (Schaeff) S. Gray s.lat cultivation on sisal decortications wastes substrates.Key words: Coprinus cinereus, chicken manure, solid sisal wastes, sporocarps, pileus, stipe

Optimized Production of Lignin Peroxidase, Manganese Peroxidase and Laccase in Submerged Cultures of Trametes Trogii Using Various Growth Media Compositions

A white-rot fungus, Trametes trogii, was isolated from coastal Tanzania and screened for crude lignolytic enzymes production using Rhemazol Brilliant blue R (RBBR) dye, 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and guaiacol in a semi-solid medium. Lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and Laccase (Lac) were detected by pyrogallol and !- napthol solutions, respectively on the guaiacol supplemented solid media. The effect of temperature, pH, carbon, nitrogen, Cu2+, 2,5-xylidine, ferulic acid, varatryl alcohol and Mn2+ in submerged culture fermentations were investigated for maximum enzymes production. After 7 days of incubation, 72-100% oxidation of RBBR, ABTS and guaiacol was observed. With optimized culture conditions, the fungal filtrate had maximum LiP, MnP and Lac activities of 0.18, 4.44 and 593 U/ml, respectively compared to 0.0011, 0.0054 and 2.3 U/ml obtained with non-optimized ones, amounting to 16,264%, 82,122% and 25,683% increase in LiP, MnP and Lac activities, respectively. The enhanced crude enzymes activities, RBBR decolorization and ABTS guaiacol oxidation capabilities of T. trogii show its potential as a source of industrial enzymes for biotechnological applications.Keywords: Optimization, Trametes trogii, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, laccase, fermentation, submergedTanz. J. Sci. Vol 36, 2010, 1-1

Optimization of laccase and manganese peroxidase production in submerged culture of Pleurotus sajorcaju

A white-rot fungus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, was isolated from coastal Tanzania and screened for crude lignolytic enzymes production using rhemazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) dye, 2,2-azino-bis (3- ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and guaiacol in a semi-solid medium. Laccase (Lac) and manganese peroxidase (MnP) were detected by a-napthol and pyrogallol solutions, respectively, on the guaiacol supplemented semi-solid media. The effect of temperature, pH, carbon, nitrogen, Cu2+, 2,5- xylidine, ferulic acid, Mn2+ and immobilization using Luffa cylindrica sponges in submerged culture fermentations were investigated for maximum enzymes production. After 7 days of incubation, 83 to 100% oxidation of RBBR, ABTS and guaiacol was observed. With optimized culture conditions, the fungal filtrate had maximum Lac and MnP activities of 80 and 0.94 U/ml, respectively compared to 0.62 and 0.0003 U/ml obtained with non-optimized ones; amounting to 129 and 3133 times increase in Lac and MnP activities, respectively. The improved crude enzymes activities, RBBR decolourization, ABTS and guaiacol oxidation capabilities of P. sajor-caju show its potential as a source of industrial enzymes for biotechnological applications.Key words: White-rot fungi, optimization, Pleurotus sajor-caju, laccase, manganese peroxidase, submerged fermentation, immobilization

Cultivation of three types of indigenous wild edible mushrooms: Coprinus cinereus, Pleurotus flabellatus and Volvariella volvocea on composted sisal decortications residue in Tanzania

The periods for spawn running, pinhead and fruit body formation, number of flushes, yield and biological efficiency of the three Tanzanian wild edible mushrooms, Coprinus cinereus, Pleurotus flabellatus and Volvariella volvocea, grown on composted sisal decortications residue were studied. Results revealed that the organic ingredients in sisal decortications residue composted well within 21 days of composting, resulting in the formation of suitable compost, to support the growth of mycelia of the three edible mushrooms. The time for the first appearance of mushrooms was shortest for C. cinereus (10-11 days), followed by V. volvaceae (12-14 days), while that for P. flabellatus was 16-18 days. All three mushrooms produced at least five flushes; flush 1 gave the highest yield while flush 5 the lowest yield. The biological efficiency (B.E.) for C. cinereus, P. flabellatus and V. volvaceae was 68, 64 and 28%, respectively. Significant differences (

Biogas technology research in selected sub-Saharan African countries – A review

This reviews aims to provide an insight and update of the state of biogas technology research in some selected sub-Saharan African countries in peer reviewed literature. This paper also aims to highlightthe sub-Saharan countries’ strengths and weaknesses in biogas research and development capacity. An attempt is made to pinpoint future research in critically reviewing the biogas technology research.The methane-producing potential of various agriculturally sourced feedstocks has been researched, as has the advantages of co-digestion to improve carbon-to-nitrogen ratios and the use of pretreatment toimprove the hydrolysis rates. Some optimisation techniques associated with anaerobic digestion including basic design considerations of single or two-stage systems, pretreatment, co-digestion, environmental conditions within the reactor such as temperature, pH, buffering capacity have been attempted in some of the researches in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. However, there appears to belittle research in biogas technology in many sub-Saharan African countries in internationally peer reviewed literature. Biogas production from large quantities of agricultural residues, animal wastes,municipal and industrial wastes (water) appears to have potential as an alternative renewable energy for many African countries if relevant and appropriate research is carried out to adopt the biogas technology to the local conditions in African countries. African scientists are urged to carry out research in biogas technology to locally demonstrate the feasibility, application, and adaptation of this technology and help improve the quality of energy supply in their respective countries

Cultivation of Tanzanian Coprinus cinereus (sisal compost mushroom) on three non-composted sisal waste substrates supplemented with chicken manure at various rates

Coprinus cinereus is a Tanzanian wild edible mushroom whose cultivation in the laboratory was performed in solid-state fermentation bioreactors using sisal decortication wastes namely; sisal dusts, sisal fibres and sisal leaves as basal substrates supplemented with chicken manure at various rates. Bioreactors containing 450 g wet weight of the three sisal wastes substrates each was supplemented with dry chicken manure at 0% (un-supplemented control), 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of substrate dry weight. The effect of the test sisal waste substrates and chicken manure of various supplementation rates were evaluated by mushroom yield, (g fresh mushroom/kg moist substrate) and its biological efficiency, B.E. (relationship between fresh mushroom weight and dry substrate weight as percentage) and mushroom size (a ratio of total weight of fresh mushroom and total number of mushrooms). Each, sisal waste substrate and chicken manure supplement at various rates showed variable impact on mushroom yield, productivity and size. The overall best results of mushroom production were obtained in sisal dust at 25% chicken manure in terms of mushroom yield 381 g fresh mushrooms/kg moist substrate weight and its B.E. of 112% while mushroom size best results of 1.64 was obtained at 15% manure. In conclusion, results suggest that chicken manure from free-range chicken may play an important role on increasing the yield and productivity of Coprinus cinereus on sisal waste substrates under the conditions investigated

Enhancement of anaerobic digestion of Nile perch fish processing wastewater

In East Africa, Nile perch processing into fish fillets for export generates large proportions of both solid and liquid fish wastes. These wastes are improperly utilized and/or disposed off untreated leading toenvironmental pollution problems. On the other hand, Nile perch fish processing wastewater (FPW) contains high concentrations of lipids and proteins, which have high methane yield potential. However, anaerobic digestion (AD) of FPW for methane production is limited due to process inhibition by lipids and ammonia intoxication. To overcome these limitations, the effects of co-digestion, physical and biological pretreatments on extent of methane yield were investigated. At a loading ratio of 1:1 (inoculum to substrate) with raw FPW, a methane yield of 0.56 m3/kgVS was obtained. Co-digestion of the residue with 10% gVS of brewery wastewater enhanced methane yield to a highest increment of 66%. Long chain fatty acids (LCFA) removal prior AD enhanced methane yield to an increment of 52% at LCFA removal of 8%. Pretreatment of FPW with aerobic microbial cultures isolated from a fish waste stabilization pond enhanced methane yield to an increment of 60% after 18 h, 68% after 15 h and 76.0% after 12 h of incubation, respectively, for strains CBR 11, BR 10 and a mixture of the two (CBR 11 + BR 10). The present study reports for the first time improvement of AD of Nile perch FPW by co-digestion, physical and biological pre-treatment methods and could be used as a basis for designing a pilot scale process