PRODUCTION OF SWAINSONINE FROM METARHIZIUM-ANISOPLIAE IN STIRRED-TANKAND AIRLIFT REACTORS

Growth of Metarhizium anisopliae in modified starch-casein medium prod uced 61, 50, and 58 mg swainsonine/l when cultured in shaken flasks, s tirred-tank and air-lift reactors respectively. Over approximately 45 h, the maximum swainsonine specific productivity was 0.47 mg/g.h in a stirred tank reactor and 0.32 mg/g.h in an air-lift reactor. After 120 h, increasing broth viscosity was encountered in the latter fermenter .