Biosynthesis of Arachidonic Acid Using Mortierella Alpina VKPM F-1280 Fungus During Its Cultivation on Beet Pulp

Abstract

Arachidonic acid and its derivatives are a very promising alternative to the use of environmentally hazardous chemical plant protection products. It is widely used as a growth stimulant and anti-stress resistance for agricultural plants. In this work, the possibility of using beet pulp, a by-product of the sugar beet industry, as an accessible and environmentally friendly substrate for obtaining practically important arachidonic acid during solid-phase cultivation of the Mortierella alpina VKPM F-1280 fungus was studied. It was shown that on a glycerol-containing media with beet pulp as the main polyunsaturated acid in the composition of others, essential arachidonic acid is formed (82% of the total acids). At the same time, the lipid content in the aerial mycelium does not exceed 10% (of absolute dry substance). The addition of oat flakes (30–60 g/L) into the media with beet pulp increases the lipid content in the aerial mycelium to 18% (of absolute dry substance).