Model of growth and ergot alkaloid production by <i>Claviceps purpurea</i>

Abstract

Abstract A growth model for Claviceps purpurea in submerged batch culture is presented. In developing the model, the basic principles of the growth and the morphological properties of C. purpurea are considered. The growth of C. purpurea is assumed to occur in a three‐step manner; the first step involves the assimilation and the growth of cells; the second one involves cell division, and the third one involves transformation of the mature cells to a state where they have no ability to divide but do have the ability to produce ergot alkaloids and then they gradually die. Inorganic phosphate is assumed to be the limiting substrate for the first and the second steps in conditions of carbon source being in excess. The model constants are determined by model simulation and graphical searching techniques to find the minimum value of the absolute difference between the experimental and the simulated curves for biomass, alkaloids, and sucrose.