PROXIMATE ANALYSIS AND UTILIZATION OF SWEET POTATO PEELS FOR FUNGAL PRODUCTION.

Abstract

This study investigated the proximate composition of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) peels and evaluated their potential as a substrate for fungal cultivation. Sweet potato peels were collected, processed, and analyzed using standard AOAC (2016) procedures to determine their nutritional composition. The results revealed that carbohydrates constituted the highest component (80.80 ± 0.01%), followed by crude fat (5.00 ± 0.00%), ash (5.50 ± 0.00%), crude protein (4.20 ± 0.01%), crude fiber (2.00 ± 0.00%), and moisture (2.50 ± 0.00%). These values indicate that sweet potato peels are rich in energy sources and contain adequate nutrients suitable for microbial growth. To assess their suitability for fungal cultivation, the peels were used as substrate for growing selected fungi under solid-state fermentation. Growth parameters measured included mycelial growth rate, biomass yield, and colonization period. The fungi achieved a growth rate of 6.80 ± 0.22 mm/day, biomass yield of 15.20 ± 0.36 g per 100 g substrate, and complete colonization within 9.00 ± 0.50 days. When compared with standard media such as Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and other agro-wastes (cassava peels and rice bran), sweet potato peels demonstrated competitive performance, supporting rapid mycelial expansion and substantial biomass accumulation.