| Abstract: | A simple, non-aseptic, submerged aerobic fermentation was sought in which microbial protein could be synthesised from non-protein nitrogen, at the expense of barley carbohydrate, to supplement the protein content of barley grain for non-ruminant feeding. Screening of 23 isolates of fungi in shake flask cultures showed that microbial protein could be successfully produced by a number of different species in a medium containing barley as a source of carbohydrate. Protein synthesis was markedly affected by the addition of different sources of non-protein N to the fermentation; and (NH4)2SO4 or urea proved to be good N sources in this respect. Aspergillus oryzae was selected as the most suitable species for protein synthesis, based on its performance when supplemented with the various N sources. The growth rate of A. oryzae in stirred culture was such that high yields of mycelial protein could be achieved within 24 h from a culture inoculated with a spore suspension. Under the conditions of growth used in these experiments there appeared to be little advantage in adding more than 2% barley to the medium. Higher yields of protein could be achieved at barley concentrations in excess of 2%, but only if the incubation period was extended. The tolerance of A. oryzae to low pH values was exploited to enable fungal cultures to be grown under non-aseptic conditions. Good yields of protein were obtained in 40 litre cultures grown at pH 3.5 in a modified domestic washing machine. Although protein yields were poor, non-aseptic growth was also sucesssful at pH 3.5 in 1000 litre cultures grown in an agricultural feed-mixing vessel. |
