Nilambari S Patil and Jyoti P Jadhav
The conversion of the enzymatic hydrolysate of shellfish chitin to single-cell protein was investigated. The endproduct of chitin hydrolysis by Penicillium ochrochloron chitinase was mainly N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, its further utilization as a substrate for SCP production using Yerrowia lipolytica NCIM 3450 has been studied. The 2% chitin hydrolysate was found to be optimal for SCP production. A biomass of 9.4 g/l, total protein and nucleic acid content of the biomass was 65% and 2.9%, respectively. Fish diets were formulated to replace fishmeal partially by single cell protein from Yerrowia lipolytica using chitin hydrolysate in diets of Lepidocephalus thermalis for a period of 2 weeks. Control diet and three experimental diets were prepared to replace 25%, 50% and 75% of fish meal using SCP. The result indicated 50% yeast SCP diet gave the better growth response in Lepidocephalus thermalis than other formulations.