Lycopene production from synthetic medium by Blakeslea trispora NRRL 2895 (+) and 2896 (-) in a stirred-tank fermenter.

The dissolved oxygen tension of 20% of air saturation, pH-shift from 4.0 to 5.5 on day 3, and a moderate shear stress (calculated as an impeller tip speed, V(tip) = 0.926 - 2.161 m/s) were identified to be the key factors in scaling-up the mated fermentation of Blakeslea trispora NRRL 2895 (+) and 2896 (-) for lycopene production from a shake flask to a stirred-tank fermenter. The maximal lycopene production of 183.3 mg/L was obtained in 7.5-L stirred-tank fermenter, and then the mated fermentation process was successfully step-wise scaled-up from 7.5- to 200-L stirred-tank fermenter. The comparability of the fermentation process was well controlled and the lycopene production was maintained during the process scale-up. Furthermore, with the integrated addition of 150 μmol/L abscisic acid on day 3, 0.5 g/L leucine and 0.1 g/L penicillin on day 4, the highest lycopene production of 270.3 mg/L was achieved in the mated fermentation of B. trispora in stirred-tank fermenter.