Growth and oil production of Apiotrichum curvatum in tomato juice

The lipid-accumulating yeast Apiotrichum curvatum ATCC 20509 (formerly Candida curvata D) grew in shake flask culture in freshly prepared tomato juice or tomato pulp; growth was improved when the medium was supplemented with sucrose and a basal salts mixture. Under controlled conditions in the fermentor, biomass and oil production reached a maximum at 96 h, compared with 130 h in shake flasks. Biomass production increased with the addition of 0.3% (wt/vol) urea to the juice, but decreased with the addition of 0.5% (wt/vol) yeast extract or Casamino Acids. The total amount of lipid produced and the percent of intracellular oil per cell dry weight were greatest in juice supplemented with 0.3% urea.