Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i>
This study evaluated <i>Lolium perenne</i> press juice as a sustainable substrate for Single-Cell Protein (SCP) production using <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i>. Key fermentation parameters were systematically optimized, including microbial reduction, dilution ratios, temperat...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Fermentation |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/5/266 |
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| author | Tianyi Guo Joshua Bode Katrin Kuka Nils Tippkötter |
| author_facet | Tianyi Guo Joshua Bode Katrin Kuka Nils Tippkötter |
| author_sort | Tianyi Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluated <i>Lolium perenne</i> press juice as a sustainable substrate for Single-Cell Protein (SCP) production using <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i>. Key fermentation parameters were systematically optimized, including microbial reduction, dilution ratios, temperature, and nutrient supplementation. Pasteurization at 75 °C preserved essential nutrients better than autoclaving, resulting in a 27.8% increase in biomass yield. A 1:2 dilution of press juice enhanced fermentation efficiency, achieving 20.2% higher biomass despite a lower initial sugar content. Cultivation at 30 °C enabled sustained substrate utilization and outperformed 40 °C fermentation, increasing final biomass by 43.4%. Nutrient supplementation with yeast extract, peptone, and glucose led to the highest biomass yield, with a 71% increase compared to unsupplemented juice. Press juice from the tetraploid variety, Explosion, consistently outperformed the diploid Honroso, especially when harvested early, reaching up to 16.62 g·L<sup>−1</sup> biomass. Early harvests promoted faster growth, while late harvests exhibited higher biomass yield coefficients due to improved sugar-to-biomass conversion. Compared to a conventional YM medium, fermentation with <i>L. perenne</i> press juice achieved up to a threefold increase in biomass yield. These findings highlight the potential of grass-based substrates for efficient SCP production and demonstrate how agricultural parameters like variety and harvest timing influence both quantity and quality. The approach supports circular bioeconomy strategies by valorising underutilized biomass through microbial fermentation. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2311-5637 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Fermentation |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b40d12cdc1c416f8a370111bdbf1c5c2025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372025-05-0111526610.3390/fermentation11050266Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i>Tianyi Guo0Joshua Bode1Katrin Kuka2Nils Tippkötter3Bioprocess Engineering and Downstream Processing, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, 52428 Jülich, GermanyBioprocess Engineering and Downstream Processing, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, 52428 Jülich, GermanyJulius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, 38104 Braunschweig, GermanyBioprocess Engineering and Downstream Processing, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, 52428 Jülich, GermanyThis study evaluated <i>Lolium perenne</i> press juice as a sustainable substrate for Single-Cell Protein (SCP) production using <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i>. Key fermentation parameters were systematically optimized, including microbial reduction, dilution ratios, temperature, and nutrient supplementation. Pasteurization at 75 °C preserved essential nutrients better than autoclaving, resulting in a 27.8% increase in biomass yield. A 1:2 dilution of press juice enhanced fermentation efficiency, achieving 20.2% higher biomass despite a lower initial sugar content. Cultivation at 30 °C enabled sustained substrate utilization and outperformed 40 °C fermentation, increasing final biomass by 43.4%. Nutrient supplementation with yeast extract, peptone, and glucose led to the highest biomass yield, with a 71% increase compared to unsupplemented juice. Press juice from the tetraploid variety, Explosion, consistently outperformed the diploid Honroso, especially when harvested early, reaching up to 16.62 g·L<sup>−1</sup> biomass. Early harvests promoted faster growth, while late harvests exhibited higher biomass yield coefficients due to improved sugar-to-biomass conversion. Compared to a conventional YM medium, fermentation with <i>L. perenne</i> press juice achieved up to a threefold increase in biomass yield. These findings highlight the potential of grass-based substrates for efficient SCP production and demonstrate how agricultural parameters like variety and harvest timing influence both quantity and quality. The approach supports circular bioeconomy strategies by valorising underutilized biomass through microbial fermentation.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/5/266single-cell protein (SCP)biomassrenewable resourcesfermentationbio waste<i>Lolium perenne</i> |
| spellingShingle | Tianyi Guo Joshua Bode Katrin Kuka Nils Tippkötter Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i> Fermentation single-cell protein (SCP) biomass renewable resources fermentation bio waste <i>Lolium perenne</i> |
| title | Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i> |
| title_full | Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i> |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i> |
| title_short | Enhancing Single-Cell Protein Yield Through Grass-Based Substrates: A Study of <i>Lolium perenne</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces marxianus</i> |
| title_sort | enhancing single cell protein yield through grass based substrates a study of i lolium perenne i and i kluyveromyces marxianus i |
| topic | single-cell protein (SCP) biomass renewable resources fermentation bio waste <i>Lolium perenne</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/5/266 |
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