The possibility of using peat in industrial fermentation has received attention recently. KUSTER (1963) noted that peat contained stimulat'ing substances and that addition of peat as a whole or some of its fractions might influence and probably improve microbial fermentations. It has also been demonstrated (KUSTER et al. 1968) that peat extract could be used as nutrient for cultivating yeast. The present article reports the utilization of peat extract as sole carbon source in the production of antibiotic substances by Penicilliuni chrysogenum. KO natural growth supplements e.g. corn steep liquor, soybean meal were used in this work as these substances introduce miscellaneous carbon and nitrogen sources and other extraneous factors which may confuse the cxperimental results.
An aqueous extract of pee.t was obtained by suspending dried peat in diluted HCI and autoclaving it for two hours a t 120 "C. Neutralization was achieved with l0:/0 Na011. Thc: extract was brown in colour. The total carbohydrate content expressed as glucose was 0.t350, (w/v) while the amount of reducing sugars was 0.48% (w/v). A sterilized portion was tested and found to have neither stimulating nor inhibiting effects on Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureua (NCIB 8244), the test organism used in bio-assay.