GROWTH AND CYCLOSPORINE-A PRODUCTION BY AN INDIGENOUSLY ISOLATED STRAIN OF TOLYPOCLADIUM-INFLATUM

A fungal culture isolated from a local soil sample which showed antifu ngal activity and produced cyclosporin A, was identified as Tolypoclad ium inflatum. The culture grew best in a medium containing 1% maltose (pH 5-6) when inoculated with a one-day-old inoculum at 2% (V/V) conce ntration. Under batch fermentation conditions, growth and cyclosporin A production were better in complex media (24.6 g biomass and 205 mg c yclosporin A per liter) in comparison with synthetic media (6.84 g bio mass and 35 mg cyclosporin A per liter). While addition of peptone inc reased culture growth (high biomass yield), supplementation with casei n acid hydrolyzate favored cyclosporin A production.