Tridimensional simulation of the growth of a filamentous fungus
1997
Lejeune, R. | Baron, G.V. (Vrije Univ., Brussel (Belgium). Dept. of Chemical Engineering) | Vuyst, L. de
The tridimensional growth of a filamentous fungus has been simulated, based on a model for the evolution of the microscopic morphology of Trichoderma reesei. When supplemented with a spatial representation of growth, the model correctly simulates the evolution from a single spore to a pellet. Diffusion of oxygen is included in the model. The simulated tridimensional structures have a fractal nature, and the fractal dimension, determined by a box-counting method, increases during growth. The fractal dimension only depends on the mass of the pellet, and is not affected by model parameters such as tip extension rate and branching frequency. Realistic pictures are obtained and the radius of the pellet increases at a constant rate. The dissolved oxygen profiles are found to be very different from the profiles, obtained by assuming an homogenous biomass distribution within the pellet. The formation of pellets from spore aggregates is calculated and the size of the spore aggregate is found to only influence the time needed before the appearance of a pellet, and not its morphology. Finally, hollow pellets are simulated by the inclusion of a term for cell lysis, triggered by a prolonged exposure to subcritical oxygen levels.
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