Abstract: Protease production of Actinomucor elegans AS3.2778 was optimized through the sequential methodology. After optimization,the optimum fermentation medium and conditions were obtained,the optimum composition of medium were:8 g wheat bran in a 250 ml shake flask,1.23% maltose(g/g wheat bran),1.56% peptone,0.74% KH2PO4 and 0.06% FeSO4·7H2O as nutrient supplements,and the optimum environment parameters were:initial moisture content of medium 0.79 ml water in one gram dry wheat bran,temperature 24.1℃,fermentation time 48 h. Under these conditions the maximum protease production was 1541U/g IDS(initial dry substrate),202% higher than that under the initial conditions.

Key words: Actinomucor elegans, protease, solid state fermentation, sequential methodology