Induction of Mutants from the Tartrate Producing Bacterium,Gluconobacter suboxydans and their Properties

The purpose of the present investigation is to obtain the superior mutants from the tartrate producing strain, Gluconobacter suboxydans 2026Y2 previously isolated from nature. Some mutant strains obtained by treatment with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were found to accumulate L(+) tartaric acid in culture broth with much higher yield than in the case of the wild strain.

The high tartrate productivity of the mutants was followed by the low accumulation of 2-ketogluconic acid. The mutants having high assimilability of 5-ketogluconate showed high tartrate productivity.

The culture conditions for tartaric acid production by a mutant, Gl. suboxydans N-3874, were investigated. As a result, the amount of tartaric acid accumulated in culture broth reached to a level of 14.6g/liter in the medium containing 5% glucose and 0.3% corn steep liquor.