Utilization of cheese whey for lipid and sterol production by some isolates of xerophilous fungi

One hundred and two isolates of 30 species and 4 varieties belonging to 4 genera of xerophilous fungi were cultivated on cheese whey. In fourteen species and one variety, all isolates (45) failed to grow on the cheese whey. The other species and varieties (16 and 3) of fungi were able to grow and to accumulate variable amounts of lipid and sterol on whey.Aspergillus aureolatus, Eurotium repens, E. rubrum andEmericella nidulans var.lata produced high levels of lipids, total sterols and ergosterol whileE. tonophilum proved to be superior in the production of lipid (38±8%) of dry mycelial mass), total sterol (20±4%) and ergosterol (13±3%).