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

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology 2015-01, Vol.175 (2), p.770-779
• Main Authors: Wang, Qiang, Feng, Ling-ran, Luo, Wei, Li, Han-guang, Zhou, Ya, Yu, Xiao-bin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Biochemistry; Biomass; Bioreactors; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Blakeslea trispora; Carotenoids - biosynthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Fermentation; Glucose - metabolism; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; inoculum; lycopene; Mating Factor; mating types; Mucorales - metabolism; mycelium; Mycelium - metabolism; Peptides - physiology; Phytochemicals; Pigments; Reactors; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-014-1327-y

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.