Phytase Production by Rhizopus oligosporus MTCC556 under Submerged Fermentation Conditions

Phytases catalyse the hydrolytic degradation of phytic acid and its salts and are added to monogastric animal feed to ameliorate the negative environmental and nutritional consequences of dietary phytate. Improvement of phytase production by submerged fermentation from Rhizopus oligosporus 556 strain using 1% wheat bran was attempted by optimizing the culture medium. The phytase activity appeared to be more after 8 days of fermentation Maximum phytase production was 39U/ml after under optimal conditions i.e. 5%glucose and 0.5% of peptone at pH 6. Phytase production was affected by inorganic phosphate content and high levels of inorganic phosphorus repress the biosynthesis of phytase.