The use of acetate in the metabolism of penicillium lilacinum thom

Summary The effects of adding sodium acetate to a sucrose-salts medium favorable for fat formation by Penicillium lilacinum on growth and metabolism of the fungus were studied. The presence of acetate suppressed the rate of growth during the early period of incubation, but this effect almost disappeared towards the end of the experiment. The acetate also suppressed the rate of accumulation of the carbohydrates, the nitrogenous compounds, and fats in the mycelial mats, during the logarithmic period of growth. By the end of the incubation period the amounts of these substances in the acetate-fed cultures were not much less than those of the controls. It is suggested that training the fungus on acetate may help it to utilize the acetate for fat synthesis.