Effect of Lyophilization on Survivability and Growth Kinetic of Trichoderma Strains Preserved on Various Agriculture By-Products

Growth kinetics of four Trichoderma strains was tested on lignocellulosic by-products in solid state fermentation (SSF). The strains were also analyzed for their survival rate and growth after lyophilization on these carriers. All applied monocomponent and bicomponent media were substrates for the production and preservation of Trichoderma biomass. However, the maximum number of colony forming units (CFU/g dm) was acquired on bicomponent media based on dried grass and beet pulp or grass with corn cobs, when compared to monocomponent media. Although the process of lyophilization reduced the survival rate by 50–60%, the actual number of viable cells in obtained biopreparations remained relatively high (0.58 × 10⁸ – 1.68 × 10⁸ CFU/g dm). The studied strains in the preserved biopreparations were characterized by a high growth rate, as evaluated in microcultures using the Bioscreen C system.