Utilization of agroindustrial residues for the production of microbial secondary metabolites: General aspects

Abstract

Abstract Secondary metabolites are bioactive complex compounds with various biological functions. They are biosynthetically derived from primary metabolites, they are not engaged in cell growth, but they are involved in biological interaction of the producing organisms in their nature environment. They serve as competitive and symbiosis agents, sex hormones, metal transport agent, differentiation agents, and growth regulators. Microbial secondary metabolites have wide applications in the fields of food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries, additionally to the important role in agriculture development. Solid-state fermentation offers several advantages over liquid fermentation. Most of the microbial secondary metabolites have been produced by submerged fermentation (SmF); in recent years a new trend has appeared for utilization of solid-state fermentation (SSF) in biotechnology processes that have shown satisfactory results. The use of agroindustrial residues in the fermentation technology has a favorable effects on both the environment and the economy. This chapter discusses the general aspects of utilization of agroindustrial residues in the production of microbial secondary metabolites using solid-state fermentation and presents a general review of the literature in this field.