A real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol for quantifying growth of Fusarium graminearum during solid substrate cultivation on corn stover

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.