The growth rate of inulinolytic yeast isolates from yum (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) and their inulinase production capability

Abstract

Inulinase (EC. 3.2.1.7) is a hydrolytic enzyme that hydrolyze inulin into fructose. This enzyme was very important in the high fructose syrup industry. Microbes producing inulinase can be isolated from various sources, among others from various types of tuber that contain inulin. The isolation of inulinolytic yeast from yum (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) obtained two potential isolates. Research on the growth rate of the two potential yeast isolates in producing inulinase is necessary to understand the pattern of the yeast growth and its ability to produce inulinase. The parameters observed in this study were specific growth rate (µ), generation time (g) and inulinase activity of two selected yeast isolates B2 and B3. The results showed that the specific growth rate (µ) of B2 isolate was 0.11 hours with generation time (g) 6.12 hours, whereas for B3 isolates the specific growth rate (µ ) was 0.21 hour and generation time 3.29 hours. The inulinase activity from yeast isolates B2 and B3 were 0.294 IU and 0.235 IU, respectively.