COMPOSITION OF ASPERGILLUS-NIGER MYCELIUM DURING GROWTH ON PRODUCTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE SUBSTRATES

Aspergillus niger was grown in two substrates, one producing a high excretion of citric acid into the media and another which hinders it. In both cases big differences in individual mycelial constituents were observed during the cultivation period. In citric acid accumulating conditions the synthesis of lipids and nucleic acids in fungal mycelia stopped after an initial increase, and did not change till the end of the process; whereas in nonproductive pellets both lipids and nucleic acids increased during the whole period of cultivation. Concomitantly big differences were also observed with intra- and extra-cellular proteins and amino acids, extracellular keto acids, and intracellular tricarboxylic acid cycle acids.