Effects of Various Process Parameters on the Production of γ-Linolenic Acid in Submerged Fermentation

Abstract

Studies were carried out on the fermentative production of γ-linolenic acid (GLA) using seven strains belonging to Mucorales. An oleaginous fungal strain, isolated from the Western Ghats of Kerala produced GLA at a level of 8 % (by mass), when grown in a complex medium containing glucose as the sole carbon source. Effects of different culture conditions were investigated in shake flasks. Maximum dry biomass and total GLA obtained were 48.4 g/L and 636 mg/L, respectively, in the culture cultivated at 30 °C and 200 rpm for 7 days. Among the organic nitrogen sources investigated, yeast extract, and combination of corn steep liquor and baker’s yeast in 1:1 ratio were useful for enhancing the GLA production and the effects were comparable.

Keywords

• γ-linolenic acid
• submerged fermentation
• Mucor sp.
• process parameters