Isolation of citric acid-producing Aspergillus niger from soil and organic wastes

Authors

  • Fitri Ab Aziz Zakry Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Jalan Nyabau, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia & Institut Ekosains Borneo, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Jalan Nyabau, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Nurul Shaffee Syahidah Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Jalan Nyabau, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Masnindah Malahubban Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Jalan Nyabau, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Pau Loke Show 4Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25081/jp.2020.v12.6423

Keywords:

Aspergillus niger, citric acid, fungal morphology, organic waste, soil fungi

Abstract

Introduction of new Aspergillus niger strains that are more productive than those currently in use is one of the important steps in promoting more effective commercial citric acid production. The present study was conducted to isolate and characterise indigenous A. niger from selected soil and organic wastes such as soil with buried bamboo, soil with bamboo on the surface, soil under cattle grazing, mango orchard soil, rotting plum fruit and rotting bread. Morphological identification of A. niger was based on the length and width of the conidiophores, vesicles, phialides, and spores. Citric acid-producing Aspergillus isolates were screened based on the citric acid production index. The present study found that the highest fungal spore counts (3.35±0.15 x 107 spores/g sample) were obtained from soil under cattle grazing, as were the highest A. niger counts (7.25±0.05 x 106 spores/g sample). The lowest total fungal counts came from rotting plum fruit (4.70±0.10 x 105 spores/g sample). A total of 14 isolates were collected, with five (NSA03, NSA06, NSA09, NSA12, and NSA14) showing morphological similarities with the reference isolate, A. niger Tiegh. All isolates were able to produce citric acid, but with varying efficiencies according to their citric acid production indices. The soil under cattle grazing area found to be the best site for sampling and isolation for citric acid-producing A. niger by using Czapek-Dox as a medium of isolation.

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Published

17-12-2020

How to Cite

Zakry, F. A. A., Syahidah, N. S., Malahubban, M., & Show, P. L. (2020). Isolation of citric acid-producing Aspergillus niger from soil and organic wastes. Journal of Phytology, 12, 104–108. https://doi.org/10.25081/jp.2020.v12.6423

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Articles