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Oil as a substrate for Mortierella species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2004

ROLAND W. S WEBER
Affiliation:
Lehrbereich Biotechnologie, Universität Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 23, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany. E-mail rwsweber@rhrk.uni-kl.de
HENRY T. TRIBE
Affiliation:
Wolfson College Cambridge CB3 9BB UK E-mail henrytribe@sunlituplands.plus.com
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Abstract

Sunflower oil poured onto compost in November induced massive growth of Mortierella species. Mortierella hyaline was isolated into culture at 4 or 18 °C on weak media but not at 23-25 °C or on 2% malt agar. It grew well on olive oil agar, with its hyphae aggregating inside oil drops. The nature of nutrients utilized in normal soils and composts by Mortierella is not known but lipid levels there would appear to be low. Many Mortierella species are able to convert diverse carbon sources into lipids and are thus known as oleaginous fungi. Their biotechnological applications are briefly discussed.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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