Fermentation and preservation of cellulose-degrading microbial community

To explore easy and effective methods for fermentation and preservation of a cellulose-degrading microbial community (ADS-3) with high capacity of straw degradation, two experiments for selecting effective culture medium and preservation method were carried out. Five culture mediums were used for the fermentation experiment, and the best culture medium was determined by DNA based method of PCR-DGGE (Polymerase Chain Reaction Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis). Three preservations of freeze-directly, absorb-drying and absorb-freezing were carried out, and pH value, wheat straw degrading capacity to assess the effect of six months preservation were tested. In addition, the method of DGGE was also used to analyze the microbial component of the cellulose-degrading microbial community. The results showed that the modified Czapek’s medium was superior to other mediums, after cultivation the fermentation with the most similarity microbial component compared with control of the initial ADS-3; preservation method of absorb-freezing had similar pH changes, degrading capacity for wheat straw after rejuvenation and microbial component compared with control of the initial ADS-3. Furthermore, it had cost advantage over the other methods. This study supports technical parameters for the further use of the straw-degrading microbial community.