%0 Journal Article
%T A real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol for quantifying growth of Fusarium graminearum during solid substrate cultivation on corn stover
%A Bandana Sharma
%A Sue Nokes
%A Michael Montross
%A Lisa Vaillancourt
%J Journal of Biotech Research
%D 2010
%I 
%X Solid substrate cultivation (SSC), in which microbes are grown on solid substrates in the absence of free water, is a traditional technology with the potential to produce novel chemicals and biomass products for use in the manufacture of biofuels. It is currently relatively difficult to accurately measure microbial growth on a solid substrate, and thus to optimize SSC production conditions. A quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction protocol (RT-PCR) was developed to measure growth of the corn stalk rot fungus Fusarium graminearum on corn stover. The RT-PCR assay gave results that were comparable to more traditional glucosamine assays, but it was more sensitive. Other advantages of the RT-PCR assay include its specificity and the potential for high-throughput automation. The RT-PCR approach will facilitate optimization of culture conditions in SSC systems, thus increasing the potential for using SSC in the future for chemical production and biomass processing.
%K corn stalk rot
%K microbial conversion
%K saccharification
%U http://btsjournals.com/Documents/2010v2p144-155.pdf