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A real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol for quantifying growth of Fusarium graminearum during solid substrate cultivation on corn stoverKeywords: corn stalk rot , microbial conversion , saccharification Abstract: 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.
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