Enhanced production of β-carotene from blakeslea trispora with Span 20

Abstract

Span 20 at 10 g/l induced dispersed mycelial growth of Blakeslea trispora, and significantly increased β-carotene production to 2.16 g/l. Without surfactant only 0.15 g β-carotene/l was produced. Other non-ionic surfactants composed of the same hydrophilic part as Span 20 and the hydrophobic fatty acids of Spans, including lauric acid (C12), neither induced dispersed growth of the microorganism nor increased β-carotene production.