Effects of various fatty acid components of castor oil on the growth and production of γ-decalactone by Sporobolomyces odorus

Abstract

The growth behavior of Sporobolomyces odorus in medium containing 0.06% palmitic, steraric or oleic acid was observed to be similar to that in medium lacking these acids. However, growth of S. odorus was partially inhibited in the presence of linoleic acid or ricinoleic acid. Addition of palmitic, stearic, oleic, or linoleic acid to the medium reduced the yields of γ-decalactone as determined after 168 h of cultivation. On the other hand, a significant increase in the yield of approximately 71.8 mg/ l, i.e. about 25 times that (3.5 mg/ l) in the control medium, was noted in the medium containing ricinoleic acid. The concentration of ricinoleic acid as well as the time of addition were also observed to affect the amount of γ-decalactone produced by S. odorus. When 0.06% ricinoleic acid was added to the medium at the beginning of cultivation, a maximum yield of approximately 135.4 mg/ l γ-decalactone was obtained after 216 h of cultivation.