Production of Single Cell Protein Using Mixed Culture of Toddy with Banana Fruit Juice: A Cost Effective Method

Since the increase in low quality protein food has been an issue in the developing countries, there is a need to explore good alternative protein sources. This study attempted to compare the single cell protein (SCP) production with baker’s yeast and mixed culture of toddy from banana fruit juice in the Liquid State Fermentation (LSF) system. Fermentation media composed of glucose 10 g/l. MgSO4 0.5, NaCl 0.1, CaCl2 0.1 and KH2PO4 1 g/l as control medium inoculated with toddy and 100 ml/l (10%) of banana fruit juice was replaced instead of glucose for banana medium. When the culture growing conditions (inoculum size- baker’s yeast: 0.5g and natural toddy: 5ml) of the fermentation processes were optimised separately, higher SCP production was achieved when time and temperature maintained as 3 days and 30o C respectively with 40.29% baker’s yeast and 40.95% palmyrah toddy mix for banana medium. When the carbon source was replaced with 5% fruit juice, the SCP production significantly increased to 40.87% and 41.18% with baker’s yeast and toddy mix respectively. This comparative fermentation study with baker’s yeast and palmyrah toddy mix revealed that palmyrah toddy mix produces significantly higher protein content than that of baker’s yeast. Findings suggest that cheap and naturally available palmyrah toddy mix yield higher SCP than the expensive and processed baker’s yeast in the banana extract added fermentation medium.Keywords: Baker’s yeast, Banana fruit extract, Palmyrah toddy mix, Single cell protei