Chemical Composition of Aspergillus niger as Modified by Zinc Sulphate

Abstract

The fungus was grown on 10% sugar nutrient solutions in the absence and presence of ZnSO4 and harvested after 7 days. The proximate analyses of the mycelium indicated that Zn favors the storage of those substances readily available to the organism, namely, those found in the ether and cold-water fractions, and in the hemi-celluloses. Lignin-like substances were decreased by more than 56%, indicating that these materials were formed at the expense of the hemi-celluloses. Zn favors greater utilization of sugar and N with greater production of mycelium and of citric acid in the solution.