Physiological and Morphological Modifications in Immobilized Gibberella fujikuroi Mycelia

Abstract

Constraints created by immobilization conditions modified the physiological behavior and morphological characteristics of Gibberella fujikuroi mycelia in comparison with their development in free-cell conditions. G. fujikuroi mycelia were immobilized in different support matrices (polyurethane, carrageenan, and alginate) and showed a variety of reactions in response to the different microenvironmental factors encountered during and after immobilization. The best support with respect to gibberellic acid yield and biocatalyst stability was found to be an alginate with a high degree of polymerization. The most visible effects of immobilization included changes in growth development, morphological appearance, metabolite production, mycelial pigmentation, mycelial viability under starvation conditions, and induction of resting forms when previously immobilized mycelia were subcultured.