GROWTH-KINETICS OF SCHIZOSACCHAROMYCES-POMBE UNDER VARIOUS CULTURE CONDITIONS - INFLUENCE OF PH, MALATE, ETHANOL AND OXYGENATION

The effect of various culture conditions on growth kinetics of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe strain were investigated in order to facilitate the potential use of this organism in enology. The effect of ethanol was characterized as a 80 g·l-1 critical concentration. An optimal pH range of 3.5-4.0 was found. Growth was slightly affected by malic acid at pH 3.0 but was shown to decrease drastically at pH 5.5. Aerated cultures had increased rates of growth and malate degradation than those grown under anaerobiosis, although the specific rate of malate degradation remained fairly constant. Taking into account biomass synthesis data it would seem likely that under anaerobiosis malate can replenish the Krebs' cycle for amphibolic precursor synthesis and hence avoid potential growth limitation. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.