Growth medium trace element requirement

A typical medium for natural product accretion must supply the necessary nutrients for cell growth and product biosynthesis. The nutrients include sources of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, and traces of elements such as iron and cobalt. In many cases, the use of undefined or complex nitrogen sources such as soya flour will provide sufficient levels of phosphate, sulfate, and other ions. Indeed, some simple media may consist of nothing more than a carbon source and a nitrogen source supplemented with a mixture of trace elements. In some cases, significant quantities of calcium carbonate or phosphate ions may be added to buffer the pH rather than to satisfy a specific elemental requirement (4). 

All fungi are heterotrophs and require an organic carbon source for growth. Variable numbers and quantities of vitamins are required as well otherwise, an inorganic salt medium supplemented with trace elements is enough to support good growth. In addition to these synthetic media, there are complex media based on yeast extract and peptone. Media recipes for Schiz. pombe have been described, Media recipes for work with Sacch. cerevisiae will be described in detail. 

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