Morphological Measurements of Submerged Culture of Aspergillus niger by Fully Automatic Image Analysis

A fully automatic image analysis method was applied to obtain detailed data on morphological parameters of a glucoamylase fermentation broth with Aspergillus niger No. PFST-38. a mutant strain for glucoamylase hyperproducer. In the initial stage of fermentation. there was an increase in hyphal length. whereas at the end of the fermentation a decrease in hyphal length and increase in hyphal thickness were observed. The percentage of clumps declined with dilution and the influence of shear stress upon hyphal length was negligible. It was found that the slower the decrease in the main hyphal length and the number of tips with the fermentation time. the higher the glucoamylase production rate was recorded. The production rate of glucoamylase was closely related to the increase in the hyphal thickness.