2.1. Microorganisms and culture conditions
T. hirsuta was maintained on 1.5% (w/v) agar slants consisting of 10 g/l malt
extract, 4 g/l yeast extract and 4 g/l glucose (MYG medium). Fungal mycelia were
grown on an agar plate for 7 days and then three 0.5-cm2 pieces of the mycelium
mat were inoculated in MYG medium. The cells were cultivated for 7 days in the
medium and subsequently filtered and transferred aseptically to a 500-ml Erlenmeyer
flask containing 50 ml T medium (20 g/l glucose, 10 g/l yeast extract, 10 g/l
KH2PO4, 2 g/l (NH4)2SO4 and 0.5 g/l MgSO4·7H2O). Cultures were incubated statically
at 28 ◦C under anaerobic conditions. Glucose in the Tmedium was replaced by
other carbon sources (20 g/l) to investigate the fermentation characteristics of the
fungus towards various sugars or lignocellulosic materials. All materials in medium
were sterilized in an autoclave at 121 ◦C for 15 min before use