Mathematical models of mycelium growth and ergosterol synthesis in stationary mould culture

To develop mathematical models for mycelium growth and ergosterol formation in conditions of periodic stationary culture; to verify possibilities of applying a model describing the relationship between ergosterol content and mycelium quantity. The mould growth and ergosterol formation models covering all phases of mould growth are described using a modified logistic equation with the addition of an exponential function. The correlation between ergosterol and mycelium biomass depended on the growth phase of mould. Meaningful relation was obtained for initial two phases, when both parameters were growing equally. The quadratic function for estimation of the biomass based on ergosterol content was formulated. The error resulting from the application of this function in initial phases of moulds growth was small at 5-7%, in the following phases it was at 11-31%. Mycelium biomass can be precisely determined basing on the ergosterol content, when we know the moulds growth phase. In natural environments, without the information about growth phases, it will be possible, but with the higher error. Presented model based on the ergosterol content making possible to estimate the quantity of mycelium in moulds cultures and natural environments.