title: Biomass production of the mycorrhizal fungus Suillus grevillei: effect of pH and ammonium.
abstract: The ability of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus grevillei (Klotzsch) Singer to grow in agitated submerged culture was investigated by employing the Marx-Melin-Norkrans (MMN) medium. The operating conditions suitable for improving the biomass production were determined. Batch experimental tests were carried out in either shake flasks or a stirred tank reactor. The results showed that at least two factors strongly affected the fungal growth, namely the pH and the ammonia-nitrogen concentration in the medium. By controlling the acidity in the pH range 4-5 with a Na-citrate buffer solution and introducing the ammonia-nitrogen in a step-feed way (without exceeding a concentration of approximately 0.07 kg N/m3), the exponential growth phase continued for longer than that of the control culture (no stationary phase seemed to be reached after 17 days) and an approximately 2-fold increase of the biomass/substrate growth yield was obtained compared with the control culture.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica, Politecnico di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baroglio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Specchia
mesh_terms: D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002021:Buffers; D003470:Culture Media; D005285:Fermentation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D003470:Culture Media; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds