Effect of Light-Emitting Diodes on Cordycepin Production in Submerged Culture of Paecilomyces japonica

Abstract

Paecilomyces japonica is widely cultured to produce mycelium for medicinal and health food use. Illumination is an important factor in the growth and production of mycelium in submerged culture. The effects of different light-emitting diode (LED) combinations on the growth and cordycepin content as bioactive substances of mycelium were investigated. The results showed that the mycelium dry weights were lower under dark condition and red LED treatments. Dark condition, fluorescent light, and ultraviolet-A failed to increase the cordycepin content. Blue light was necessary to increase the cordycepin content, and a red-to-blue ratio of 3:7 induced the highest cordycepin content. The cordycepin contents of mycelium in submerged culture were significantly higher in a 12 h/day illumination time under red and blue (red-to-blue ratio of 3:7) LED treatments, showing an increase of up to 38% compared with those under the fluorescent-light control condition. The results demonstrated the roles of light with different wavelengths on the biosynthesis of cordycepin as bioactive substances. The low-heat release and replacement of traditional fluorescent lights with low-energy-consuming LEDs could increase the contents of bioactive substances. After optimization of the cordycepin production using response surface methodology (Box–Behnken design) to its canonical form, the optimum combination was found to be as follows: illumination time = 17.7 h/day, sugar content in the medium = 9.7 g/50 mL, and incubation time = 61.2 h. The model predicted a maximum response of 3779.2 μg/mL cordycepin yield.