Morphogenesis, ATP content and oxytetracycline production by Streptomyces rimosus in solid substrate cultivation

On agar plates, mycelia of Streptomyces rimosus TM-55 had a slender and smooth surface at 24 h, developed a shorter form and rough surface at 116 h, and lysed after 504 h incubation. Oxytetracycline potency reached a maximum at 94 h. During cultivation on solid substrate, mycelia rarely occurred on the surface at 24 h. The organism appeared as short rods at 166 h, and formed spores at 304 h. The ATP content was maximal at 166 h, while energy charge 1•aried between 0.63 and 0.77 during cultivation. The oxytetracycline potency was maximal at 166 hand each gram of substrate produced II mg of antibiotic. ATP content and energy charge of mycelia showed a positive correlation with cell activity and oxytetracycline production.