Physio-Morphological Changes in a Riboflavin Producer Eremothecium ashbyii DT1 and UV Mutants in Submerged Fermentation

By UV-irradiation of Eremothecium ashbyii DTl, a higWy flavinogenic mutant (UV-18-57) and a nonflavinogenic mutant (UV -85) were obtained. The physio-morphological characteristics of these three strains were studied on glucose medium in submerged fermentation. Glucose utilization and mycelial growth occurred in 0 - 2 days of fermentation. By the third day, the biomass had declined. Extracellular riboflavin excretion was distinct from the second day, reaching a maximum rate by the fourth day. The hyphae of the highly flavinogenic mutant UV-18-57 were broader than DTl, while the nonflavinogenic UV-85 hyphae were very thin. Riboflavin accumulation was high in UV-18-57 (extracellular riboflavin,$825\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ , and intracellular, $490\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) and caused the mycelia to swell into bulbous forms. Riboflavin accumulation was less in DTl ($108\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ extracellular and $24\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ intracellular) and correspondingly its hyphae were thinner than those of UV-18-57 and swollen bulbous mycelia were not prominent. UV-85 was nonflavinogenic and, accordingly, its mOlphological characteristics included long thin filaments with no intracellular riboflavin accumulation. A large number of greenish fluorescence spores were seen in UV-18-57, whereas DTI had less spores and UV-85 was nonsporulating. Sporulation is correlated with riboflavin production. UV-18-57 had better mycelial integrity and lysis started only by the seventh day, whereas DTI and UV -85 started to lyze earlier by 4 -5 days. By the late stage of fermentation (eighth day), DTl had a few long, thin filaments indicating some secondary growth, whereas UV -85 showed a compact pellet form of mycelia. Most mycelia of UV-18-57 still appeared intact.