Production of lysergic acid derivatives with immobilized Claviceps paspali mycelium

Summary

A semicontinuous fermentation with immobilized mycelium of Claviceps paspali, producing mainly methylcarbinolamide of lysergic acid, ergometrine and the amide of lysergic acid, was carried out. It was found that immobilization itself improved ergometrine production. The type and concentration of alginate used dit not influence the alkaloid spectrum. The age and quantity of inoculum as well as the length of a particular cycle affected total alkaloid production but did not seem to affect the changes in relative amounts of particular alkaloids. The best results were obtained with 1000 mg dry mycelium weight of 6-day-old fungus from the vegetative phase in 100 ml production medium immobilized in 4% alginate of medium or low viscosity and by recycling every 10 days. When no fungus was found outside the gel beads it was possible to improve the yield of ergometrine from 52% in the first cycle to 85% in the fourth cycle of the semicontinuous procedure.