Bistage control of pH for improving exopolysaccharide production from mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum in an air-lift fermentor.

It was found that pH control definitely affects mycelial cell growth and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production of the mycelial cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum. Compared to the case of uncontrolled pH cultivation, a culture system whose pH was kept constant at 3 and 6 exhibited improved mycelial cell growth and EPS production, respectively. The bistage pH control technique, that is, shifting the pH from 3 to 6 at the initial phase of the exponential growth, is introduced to improve cell growth and EPS production. This technique can greatly increase EPS production to 20.1 g/l from 4.1 g/l in the case of uncontrolled pH cultivation, without adverse effects on cell growth as in the case of constant maintenance of a high pH. It was also proved that bistage pH control retained the desirable morphologies of the mycelia during cultivation and resulted in low viscosity and yield stress of the culture broth. It will be useful for the application of the culture process to mycelial growth in a large-scale fermentor.