Luffa (Luffa cylindrica L.; Family: Cucurbitaceae) is a common
cucurbitaceous vegetable crop grown abundantly in tropical and
sub-tropical countries [11] . The plant is a climber with fruits,
which are berry, elongated and cylindrical. The fibrous vascular
network of the dried fruits of luffa is used as a bath sponge and
for the manufacture of table, door and bath mats. Due to the
spongy nature of the dried fruits, these have been found as suitable
carrier matrix for microbial cell immobilization[11] . Because, the
immobilization technique employing luffa sponge is cheap and
easy to handle, the material is highly porous, resistant to autoclav-ing, pH and temperature variations and above all, is an ideal mate-rial for use in industrial fermentation in developing countries [7]