Screening of factors influencing exo-polygalacturonase production by Aspergillus niger ATCC 120120 using two-level fractional factorial design

Abstract

Exo-polygalacturonase was produced by Aspergillus niger ATCC 120120 in a solid-state fermentation using Nephrolepis biserrata leaves. Factors affecting the production of exo-polygalacturonase were determined using a two-level fractional factorial design. The screening process for six factors; pH, incubation time, temperature, pectin concentration, inoculum size and moisture content, that influence the production of exo-polygalacturonase by A. niger was performed. The result of variance analysis (ANOVA) suggested that there were four statistically significant (P < 0.005) factors in the production of exo-polygalacturonase by A. niger. These factors were incubation time, temperature, pectin concentration and moisture content. The statistical analysis shows that the linear mathematical model is significant with coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.9711. The optimum production of exo-polygalacturonase obtained using the model in this study was at 40.00 U/g.