Objective: This work is the first application of a morphological engineering technique called microparticle-enhanced cultivation (MPEC) aimed at the facilitation of laccase production in the submerged cultures by two basidiomycetes species Cerrena unicolor and Pleurotus sapidus.
Results: The positive effect of the applied 10 μm Al2O3 microparticles at concentrations from 5 to 30 g Al2O3 l(-1) was shown. Laccase activity increased 3.5-fold for C. unicolor and 2-fold for P. sapidus at 15 g Al2O3 l(-1) on 9 and 14 day of the cultivation, respectively, compared to the control culture without microparticles. The increase of laccase activity in the cultivation broths was caused by the action of Al2O3 microparticles on the agglomeration of hyphae. It led to the decrease of the size of the pellets, (on average by 2 mm for C. unicolor), the change of their shape (star-shaped pellets for C. unicolor) and the change of their structure (more compact pellets for P. sapidus).
Conclusions: Application of MPEC for the submerged cultures of two laccase-producing basidiomycetes proved successful in increasing of enzyme production.
Keywords: Basidiomycetes; Fungal morphology; Laccase; Microparticle-enhanced cultivation.