Initial pH determines the morphological characteristics and secondary metabolite production in Aspergillus terreus and Streptomyces rimosus cocultures

The influence of the initial pH on the morphology and secondary metabolite production in cocultures and axenic cultures of Aspergillus terreus and Streptomyces rimosus was investigated. The detected secondary metabolites (6 of bacterial and 4 of fungal origin) were not found in the cultures initiated at pH values less than or equal to 4.0. The highest mean levels of oxytetracycline were recorded in S. rimosus axenic culture at pH 5.0. Initiating the axenic culture at pH 5.9 led to visibly lower product levels, yet the presence of A. terreus reduced the negative effect of non-optimal pH and led to higher oxytetracycline titer than in the corresponding S. rimosus axenic culture. The cocultivation initiated at pH 5.0 or 5.9 triggered the formation of oxidized rimocidin. The products of A. terreus were absent in the cocultures. At pH 4.0, the striking morphological differences between the coculture and the axenic cultures were recorded.