Mucor indicus

M. indicus is among the most important members of zygomycetes fungi. This dimorphic fungus is capable of production of several valuable products. Some strains of the fungus have been isolated from the traditional Indonesian food tempeh. M. indicus is nowadays used for production of several homemade food and beverages especially in Asia. This has also been successfully used as a safe nutritional source for fish and rat. The fungus is generally regarded as safe though there are few reports claiming that this is a pathogenic fungus.

Mucor indicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Zygomycota
Class:
Zygomycetes
Order:
Mucorales
Family:
Mucoraceae
Genus:
Mucor
Species:
Mucor indicus

The capability of the fungus in production of ethanol is comparable with that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Unlike S. cerevisiae, M. indicus ferments pentoses as well as hexoses and therefore this can be used for production of ethanol from lignocellulosic materials.[1]

The cell wall of the fungus contains considerable amounts of chitosan. Moreover, the fungus is classified as an oil producing fungus. Hence, the biomass of the fungus is considered as a rich source for production of chitosan and polyunsaturated fatty acids especially γ-linolenic acid (Omega-6).

The autolysate of the fungus has a high nutritional value and can replace yeast extract in microbial cultivations.

References
  1. Sharifia, Mahnaz; Karimi, Keikhosro; Taherzadeh, Mohammad J (2008). "Production of ethanol by filamentous and yeast-like forms of Mucor indicus from fructose, glucose, sucrose, and molasses". Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology. 35 (11): 1253–1259. doi:10.1007/s10295-008-0422-x. PMID 18712551.

Further reading
  • Karimi, Keikhosro; Zamani, Akram (2013). "Mucor indicus: Biology and industrial application perspectives: A review". Biotechnology Advances. 31 (4): 466–81. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.01.009. PMID 23376652.
  • Zamani, Akram (2010). Superabsorbent polymers from the cell wall of zygomycetes fungi (PhD thesis). Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology. ISBN 978-91-7385-417-7. OCLC 939236678.
  • L.Edebo, Zygomycetes for fish feed. USP 0136617 A1. 2009.
  • Karimi, Keikhosro; Edebo, Lars; Taherzadeh, Mohammad J (2008). "Mucor indicus as a biofilter and fermenting organism in continuous ethanol production from lignocellulosic hydrolyzate". Biochemical Engineering Journal. 39 (2): 383–8. doi:10.1016/j.bej.2007.10.009.
  • Sharifia, Mahnaz; Karimi, Keikhosro; Taherzadeh, Mohammad J (2008). "Production of ethanol by filamentous and yeast-like forms of Mucor indicus from fructose, glucose, sucrose, and molasses". Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology. 35 (11): 1253–9. doi:10.1007/s10295-008-0422-x.
  • Karimi, Keikhosro; Emtiazi, Giti; Taherzadeh, Mohammad J (2006). "Production of ethanol and mycelial biomass from rice straw hemicellulose hydrolyzate by Mucor indicus". Process Biochemistry. 41 (3): 653–8. doi:10.1016/j.procbio.2005.08.014.
  • Bartnicki Garcia, S (1963). "Symposium on Biochemical Bases of Morphogenesis in Fungi. Iii. Mold-Yeast Dimorphism of Mucor". Bacteriological Reviews. 27: 293–304. PMC 441189. PMID 14063856.


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