Study of the spore-forming activity of the Blakeslea trispora mushroom

Abstract

Industrial production of carotene-containing preparations of natural origin is an urgent task of modern biotechnology. The importance of this problem is determined by the specificity and diversity of functions performed by carotenoids in living cells. The production of safe natural carotenoid products is possible only by biotechnological means, that is, with the participation of appropriate producer microorganisms. The most promising among various potential carotenoid-producing microorganisms was the mold fungus Blakeslea trispora, which was selected in Ukraine as an industrial producer of beta-carotene. But if certain inducing components are used in the nutrient media, the fungus switches to oversynthesis of lycopene or other carotenoids. The production of safe natural carotenoid products is possible only by biotechnological methods with the participation of appropriate producer microorganisms. The most promising among various potential carotenoid producers was the mold fungus B. trispora, which was selected in Ukraine as an industrial producer of various carotenoids. A physiological feature of this producer was the instability of sporulation in both (+) and (-) strains of the heterothallic fungus. The aim of the work is to develop methods for increasing the level of sporulation ability of B. trispora under surface cultivation conditions. The level of sporulation was estimated by the number of spores per 1 cm². Counting chambers were used to count the number of spores. The work proposed the use of physical and chemical factors to intensify sporulation in B. trispora. Thus, the stimulating effect of the duration of visible light illumination on the sporulation ability of B. trispora was studied. The influence of different parts of the visible light spectrum on the studied process was also determined: violet, blue, green, yellow and red. It was found that the maximum number of spores is formed when the surface culture is illuminated for at least 4 days at an intensity of 300 lux. The maximum stimulating effect was achieved when illuminating the surface culture of B. trispora with red light: the number of spores increased 35 times compared to the dark control. Since repeated light exposure may cause undesirable metabolic processes in fungal cells, the effect of some antioxidants on the growth and carotenogenesis of populations of the fungus B. trispora obtained from shoals grown under intense light conditions was tested Citric acid, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, cysteine, and urea were used as antioxidant nutrient components. It was found that the studied antioxidants do not affect the producer’s ability to accumulate biomass and synthesize beta-carotene. The intensity of sporulation also does not change.