Inoculum padronization for the production of cutinase by Fusarium oxysporum

Cutinase is a versatile enzyme showing several interesting properties for application in industrial processes. The widespread use of this enzyme depends on the development of an efficient and low-cost production system. One of the most important steps in a fermentation process is the standardization of the inoculum characteristics. In this study, the production of cutinase by Fusarium oxysporum showed a statistically significant relationship with both the inoculum size and the inoculum PDA pH. The greatest activities were 19.1 U/mL at PDA pH 7.0 and 22.72 U/mL using an aliquot of 12.72 x 10(7) spores/mL. The macroscopic characteristics of the colonies of Fusarium oxysporum changed according to the variation of the medium pH, with the best results recorded in those colonies presenting a cotton white aspect.