Bioconversion of alpha pinene to verbenone by resting cells of Aspergillus niger

Resting cells of a locally isolated strain of Aspergillus niger caused the bioconversion of alpha pinene to verbenone. The formation of verbenone was raised from trace amounts (under screening conditions) to 3.28 mg/100 ml (equivalent to a molar yield of 16.5% conversion of the substrate) by amending the cultivation medium for the fungus. The optimal conditions were: 6 g/100 ml for the glucose concentration, a pH of 7.0, an alpha pinene concentration of 20 mg/100 ml, and a 6-h incubation period for the reaction.