THE EFFECT OF CARBON SOURCE, TEMPERATURE AND AERATION ON THE PRODUCTION OF ASCOSTEROSIDE, A NOVEL ANTIFUNGAL AGENT, BY ASCOTRICHA-AMPHITRICHA

This paper describes the optimization of production of ascosteroside, a novel antifungal agent with an alpha-linked glycoside of a lanostero ne-type triterpenoid structure. Glucose, sorbose and inositol were det ermined to be the best carbon sources for the production of ascosteros ide. Temperature affected levels of ascosteroside, with production bei ng highest at 16 degrees C with 1% glucose, and lowest at 32 degrees C . Dissolved oxygen levels were found to be critical in the production of ascosteroside in fermenter cultures. In order for production of asc osteroside to occur in fermenter cultures, the threshold level of diss olved oxygen was found to be above 26%.