Abstract: | The acid-resistant fungus Scytalidium acidophilum ATCC 26774 was cultivated in submerged fermentation in hydrolysates of Sphagnum peat moss produced with H2SO4, HCl, HNO3 and H3PO4 acids. Hydrolysis with H2SO4 produced the highest concentration of total carbohydrates and reducing sugars in the hydrolysates. However, when Scytalidium acidophilum ATCC 26774 was grown in undiluted hydrolysates, the H3PO4 medium produced the best mycelial growth. The H2SO4 medium produced the highest dry biomass concentration (3.5 g dm?3) obtained with water-diluted, non-supplemented peat hydrolysates. Supplementation of diluted H2SO4 hydrolysates with 3 g dm?3 yeast extract and 0.4 g dm?3 MgSO4 considerably enhanced the growth, up to 5.9 g dm?3 dry fungal biomass. The biomass composition of Scytalidium acidophilum ATCC 26774 grown in the medium which produced the best growth was determined, revealing a relatively high protein content of 37.5% of the dry mycelial weight. |