Abstract
The production of fungal spores using on-site, non-sterile, portable fermentation equipment is technically constrained. Very little information is available on the production requirements, such as medium concentration, inoculum stabilization, required fermentation times, and maintenance of axenic growth. In this study, we developed a two-part, liquid concentrate of the production medium that remains stable and soluble at room temperature. We also examined inoculum stability and showed that freeze- or air-dried blastospore preparations were stable for 7 days after rehydration when stored at 4 °C. The use of a low-pH (pH 4), relatively rich complex medium provided a growth environment deleterious to bacterial growth yet conducive to rapid sporulation by Paecilomyces fumosoroseus. High concentrations of blastospores (7.9×108/ml) of P. fumosoroseus were produced in a 40-h fermentation with very low levels of bacterial contamination when the fermentor was charged with a blastospore production medium with a starting pH of 4 and inoculated with blastospore concentrations greater than 1×106 spores/ml. These studies demonstrate that the use of disinfected, portable fermentation equipment has potential for on-site production of high concentrations of blastospores of the bioinsecticidal fungus P. fumosoroseus.
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Acknowledgement
The authors wish to express their appreciation and gratitude to Loren Iten for his insight on utilization of the in-line static mixer for increased aeration in the fermentor recirculation lines, and to Kevin Mitchell for his technical expertise and assistance throughout the project.
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Jackson, M.A., Payne, A.R. & Odelson, D.A. Liquid-culture production of blastospores of the bioinsecticidal fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus using portable fermentation equipment. J IND MICROBIOL BIOTECHNOL 31, 149–154 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-004-0127-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-004-0127-8