Isolation
and
Screening
of
Microorganisms -
The success of an industrial fermentation process chiefly depends on the microorganism strain used. An ideal producer or economically important strain should have the following characteristics.
1. It should be pure, and free from phage.
2. It should be genetically stable, but amenable to genetic modification.
3. It should produce both vegetative cells and spores; species producing only mycelium are rarely used.
4. It should grow vigorously after inoculation in seed stage vessels.
5. Should produce a single valuable product, and no toxic by-products.
6. Product should be produced in a short time, e.g., 3 days.
7. It should be amenable to long term conservation.
8. The risk of contamination should be minimal under the optimum performance conditions.
