GROWTH AND OIL PRODUCTION OF APIOTRICHUM-CURVATUM IN TOMATO JUICE

The lipid-accumulating yeast Apiotrichum curvatum ATCC 20509 (formerly Candida curvata D) grew in shake flask culture in freshly prepared to mato juice or tomato pulp; growth was improved when the medium was sup plemented with sucrose and a basal salts mixture. Under controlled con ditions in the fermenter, biomass and oil production reached a maximum at 96 h, compared with 130 h in shake flasks. Biomass production incr eased with the addition of 0.3% (wt/vol) urea to the juice, but decrea sed with the addition of 0.5% (wt/vol) yeast extract or Casamino Acids . The total amount of lipid produced and the percent of intracellular oil per cell dry weight were greatest in juice supplemented with 0.3% urea.