Effect of Inoculation Process on Lycopene Production by Blakeslea trispora in a Stirred-Tank Reactor.

Wang, Qiang; Feng, Ling-ran; Luo, Wei; Li, Han-guang; Zhou, Ya; Yu, Xiao-bin

Lycopene biosynthesis by Blakeslea trispora was greatly enhanced in a stirred-tank reactor when a nonsynchronous inoculation process, in which the (+) mating type was inoculated after the (−) mating type has been grown for a certain period of time, was applied. The lycopene concentration with nonsynchronous inoculation in a 24-h inoculation interval was 33 % higher than that with synchronous inoculation. The optimum inoculation ratio was 1:2 (+/−) at the 36 and 48 h inoculum age of mating types (+) and (−), respectively. Fermentation time for the individual strains and mated conditions showed that the (+) mating type grows faster than the (−) mating type. Morphological observation showed that the mycelium ratio of B. trispora (−) in mating culture with nonsynchronous inoculation was higher than that with synchronous inoculation. The results indicated that nonsynchronous inoculation process increased the dominance of B. trispora (−) in joint cultivation and hence stimulated lycopene biosynthesis.

LYCOPENE; BIOSYNTHESIS; FERMENTATION; MYCELIUM; CAROTENES

Applied Biochemistry & Biotechnology, 2015, Vol 175, Issue 2, p770

0273-2289

Academic Journal

10.1007/s12010-014-1327-y