GB1085994A - Growing fungi - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of growing non-pathogenic fungi by submerged culture comprises mixing a water-dispersible colloid, an aqueous mineral salt nutrient, a hydrocarbon or carbohydrate as the source of carbon, and a fungus cultivatable upon the hydrocarbon or carbohydrate, the colloid being in the form of a colloidal solution or colloidal dispersion with the aqueous mineral salt nutrient, incubating the mixture at a pH within the range of from 2.0 to 8.5 in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and at a temperature in the range of 20 DEG to 55 DEG C., and growing the fungus in the body of the mixture. The micro-organism sought to be produced may be any fungus within the classification Eumycetes, but preferably is one from the class Fungi Imperfecti or from the class Phycomycetes. Fungi of the general Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Mucor, Monilia, Helmintho sporium, Alternaria, Fusarium and Myrothrecium are mentioned and of these a number of species are specified. Of the many hydrocarbons, alkyl hydrocarbons and carbohydates given, n-decane (vapour) is preferred. The colloidal solution or colloidal dispersion is formed by sterilizing a mixture of the colloid and aqueous mineral salt nutrient and cooling. The colloid, which should be edible or at least non-toxic to animals, is incorporated in a sufficiently small proportion (usually less than 1%) still enabling the mixture to be in the liquid phase during agitation. During or after the growth phase the cells are collected and preferably are dried. The colloid can be removed from them by washing in warm or hot water. The colloid may be a vegetable gum such as gum carrageenin, gum tragacanth, gum arabic, gum ghatti and gum karaya; seaweed colloids such as agar, carrageen, alginic acid or sodium alginate; seed extracts such as locust bean, quince and quar; starches and converted starches; sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; apple or citrus pectin; low methoxy pectins; chitin, chondroitin sulphate, hyaluronic acid; cholesterol; gelatine, glycerol, propylene glycol alginate, and stearic acid mono- and diglycerides, also albumin in cases where it is not broken down.