Production of erythritol from glucose by an osmophilic mutant of Candida magnoliae

Candida magnoliae and its mutants were analyzed to produce erythritol from glucose with high yield and productivity. One mutant, M2, showed higher ery thritol conversion yield and productivity than the wild strain. The osmophi lic mutant produced 25 g erythritol l(-1) after 83 h of a flask culture in a medium containing 10% (w/v) glucose, corresponding to a 25% increase in e rythritol and a 30% increase in erythritol productivity compared with the w ild type. The fermentation properties were further improved by cultivating the osmophilic mutant in a fermenter containing 20% (w/v) glucose medium wi th 0.54 g l(-1) h(-1) of erythritol productivity and 43% of erythritol conv ersion yield based on glucose.