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New insights into mechanisms of growth and β‐carotene production in Blakeslea trispora
Author(s) -
Böhme Karen,
Richter Christin,
Pätz Reinhard
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.144
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1860-7314
pISSN - 1860-6768
DOI - 10.1002/biot.200600096
Subject(s) - erlenmeyer flask , mating type , laboratory flask , food science , germination , carotene , mucorales , beta carotene , biology , botany , carotenoid , chemistry , biochemistry , chromatography , medicine , mucormycosis , pathology , gene
Blakeslea trispora (Mucorales) has economic importance because of its ability to produce large amounts of β‐carotene. To shed light on the actual point of induction and to shorten the following production process, germination and growth of its two mating types, (–) and (+), were observed separately, and the mating point was investigated in lab scale experiments. The (–) mating type showed much faster germination than the (+) type on solid medium and in Erlenmeyer flasks. However, after a first period, the (–) mating type grew clearly slower than the (+) type. In addition, the (–) type branched more vividly than the (+) type. A ratio of 30:1 of (–) and (+) type at an age of 20 h was found to achieve highest β‐carotene yields. Our results provide a comprehensive overview of Blakeslea trispora growth and its product synthesis.