Protein Enrichment of Apple Pomace and Use in Feed for Nile Tilapia

Appl Biochem Biotechnol (2009) 152:7487

DOI 10.1007/s12010-008-8259-3

Francielo Vendruscolo & Cristile da Silva Ribeiro & Elisa Esposito & Jorge Luiz Ninow

Received: 13 November 2007 /Accepted: 31 March 2008 /

Published online: 4 July 2008# Humana Press 2008

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to investigate the protein enrichment of apple pomace by Gongronella butleri through solid-state cultivation and addition of this material as feed for tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus). Factorial experimental design was used for the assessment of culture conditions to determine the effects of the source of nitrogen, initial moisture, and granulometry on the protein enrichment of apple pomace. During culture, the consumption of reducing sugars and the production of soluble protein were determined. The best conditions obtained were with urea (5% w/w), initial moisture of 70% and granulometry in the range from 0.85 to 1.70 mm, producing 19.63% of soluble protein. The fry submitted to the diet containing treated apple pomace presented an increase of 44% in body mass, demonstrating that apple pomace biotransformed may represent an excellent food supplement.

Keywords Protein enrichment . Apple pomace . Solid-state cultivation . Tilapia fry . Agro-industrial residues

Introduction

Algae, fungi, and bacteria are the main sources of microbial protein used as single-cell protein (SCP) [1]. Aspergillus niger [2, 3], Saccharomyces cerevisiae [2, 4], Fusarium graminearum [2], Penicillium cyclopium [5], and white fungi [6] are examples of

F. Vendruscolo : J. L. Ninow (*)

Departamento de Engenharia Qumica e Engenharia de Alimentos, Centro Tecnolgico, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Caixa Postal 476, CEP:88040-900 Florianpolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil e-mail: [email protected]

C. da Silva Ribeiro : E. Esposito

Ncleo de Cincias Ambientais, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, CEP: 08780-911 Mogi das Cruzes, So Paulo, Brazil

Protein Enrichment of Apple Pomace and Use in Feed for Nile Tilapia

Appl Biochem Biotechnol (2009) 152:7487 75

microorganisms used worldwide as SCP. Mucor, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, and Penicillium are the most widely used filamentous fungi in processes involving solid-state fermentation (SSF), lending themselves to this application by their ability to grow in the absence of free water and their versatility of application and manipulation [1, 7]. Residues such as sugar cane bagasse [8, 9], wheat bran [1012], and rice bran [13] are the main agro-industrial subproducts used in processes involving SSF.