EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON SCLEROGLUCAN SYNTHESIS AND ORGANIC-ACID PRODUCTION BY SCLEROTIUM-GLUCANICUM

Process temperature strongly influences the outcome of the fermentatio n process for production of the biopolymer scleroglucan using the moul d Sclerotium glucanicum. Scleroglucan formation is optimal around 28 d egrees C and falls as temperature is varied from this. Biomass formati on displays a higher optimum temperature and a broader optimal range. Formation of the by-product oxalic acid generally rises as temperature declines, except at 20 degrees C, where oxalic acid formation account s for only half of total acidity; the remainder is accounted for by ma lic and fumaric acid synthesis. At the highest temperature examined (3 6 degrees C), growth and biosynthetic activity were much reduced and t he organism aggregated to form dense, heavily pigmented pelleted struc tures.