Maltose and peptone were the best carbon and nitrogen sources for the produ
ction of destruxins from Metarhizium anisopliae. With the addition of 0.1%
(w/v) beta -alanine to the basal medium, the yields of cyclodepsipeptides D
A and DB were 7.2 and 279 mg/ L, respectively, which was 2-fold higher than
that of control experiment. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied
to optimize the compositions of maltose, peptone, beta -alanine, and gluco
se used in a shaker-flask cultivation of M. anisopliae for the production o
f DA and DB. Estimated optimal compositions for the DA production were malt
ose 2.58%, peptone 0.72%, beta -alanine 0.02%, and glucose 0.55%. The predi
cted DA yield was 18.5 mg/L. On the other hand, the optimal compositions fo
r DB production were maltose 2.51%, peptone 0.75%, beta -alanine 0.02%, and
glucose 0.43%. A maximum DB yield of 232 mg/L was predicted. These were co
nfirmed by cultivation experiments conducted at the optimized conditions fo
r maximum destruxins production in a shaker-flask. Furthermore, a modest hi
gh level of DA (49 mg/L) and DB (268 mg/L) yields were obtained by employin
g the response surface methodology optimized DB production medium in a no-b
affle, stirred-tank fermenter.