Nutritional requirements of Brettanomyces bruxellensis: growth and physiology in batch and chemostat cultures.

The nutritional requirements of Brettanomyces bruxellensis have been investigated. Batch culture and chemostat pulse techniques were used to identify growth-limiting nutrients. The study included determination of the essential components of the culture medium and quantification of the effects of the components. Among the components tested, ammonium sulfate and yeast extract had a significant effect on glucose consumption, growth, and ethanol production. However, if the ammonium sulfate concentration is above 2 g/L, an inhibitory effect on B. bruxellensis growth is observed. The yeast extract appears to be the most important and significant component for growth. The maximum amount of synthesized biomass is proportional to the concentration of yeast extract added to the culture broth (in the tested range). Magnesium and phosphate ions are probably not essential for B. bruxellensis. These ions appear to be supplied in sufficient amounts by the yeast extract in the culture medium. Brettanomyces bruxellensis appears to have very low nutritional requirements for growth.