Assessment of acid hydrolysates of peat as substrate for Scytalidium acidophilum ATCC 26774 fungus

The acid‐resistant fungus Scytalidium acidophilum ATCC 26774 was cultivated in submerged fermentation in hydrolysates of Sphagnum peat moss produced with H 2 SO 4 , HCl, HNO 3 and H 3 PO 4 acids. Hydrolysis with H 2 SO 4 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 H 3 PO 4 medium produced the best mycelial growth. The H 2 SO 4 medium produced the highest dry biomass concentration ( 3.5 g dm −3 ) obtained with water‐diluted, non‐supplemented peat hydrolysates. Supplementation of diluted H 2 SO 4 hydrolysates with 3 g dm −3 yeast extract and 0.4 g dm −3 MgSO 4 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.