Effect of inoculation process on lycopene production by Blakeslea trispora in a stirred-tank reactor

Lycopene biosynthesis by Blakeslea trispora was greatly enhanced in a stirred-tank reactor when a nonsynchronous inoculation process, in which the (+) mating type was inoculated after the (-) mating type has been grown for a certain period of time, was applied. The lycopene concentration with nonsynchronous inoculation in a 24-h inoculation interval was 33 % higher than that with synchronous inoculation. The optimum inoculation ratio was 1:2 (+/-) at the 36 and 48 h inoculum age of mating types (+) and (-), respectively. Fermentation time for the individual strains and mated conditions showed that the (+) mating type grows faster than the (-) mating type. Morphological observation showed that the mycelium ratio of B. trispora (-) in mating culture with nonsynchronous inoculation was higher than that with synchronous inoculation. The results indicated that nonsynchronous inoculation process increased the dominance of B. trispora (-) in joint cultivation and hence stimulated lycopene biosynthesis.