ENHANCED SYNTHESIS OF TRISPORIC ACID AND BETA-CAROTENE PRODUCTION IN BLAKESLEA-TRISPORA BY ADDITION OF A NONIONIC SURFACTANT, SPAN-20

When a non-ionic surfactant, Span 20, was added to a mated culture of Blakeslea trispora, beta-carotene production increased 15 fold compare d to that without the surfactant, reaching 2.3 g/l. The marked increas e of beta-carotene was closely related to the titer of trisporic acid, a strong stimulator of beta-carotene synthesis. With Span 20, the mic roorganism produced 15 times more trisporic acid (8.8 mg/g dry cell we ight) than without the surfactant (0.6 mg/g dry cell weight). Therefor e, it was concluded that Span 20 considerably enhanced the production of trisporic acid, which subsequently stimulated beta-carotene synthes is.