INFLUENCE OF CARBOHYDRATES AND POLYOLS ON L-LACTIC ACID PRODUCTION AND FATTY-ACID FORMATION BY RHIZOPUS-ARRHIZUS

Growth and L-lactic acid production on 24 different carbohydrates and polyols (glycerol, mannitol and sorbitol) by Rhizopus arrhizus CCM 810 9 were determined. The D- but not the L-forms of xylose, fructose, gal actose, mannose, glucose, cellobiose, maltose and sucrose and partiall y hydrolysed starch were converted to L-lactic acid. Changes in lipid formation and fatty acid composition were detected in biomass grown on the different sugars. In the presence of polyols, growth and consider able production of lipids were observed with little or no lactate prod uction. Invertase was mainly associated with the mycelium during growt h on sucrose, whereas glucoamylase and alpha-amylase were produced ext racellularly during growth on starch.