Patent ID: 8609397

Claim:
A method for preservation of a spore-forming microorganism capable of microbial production of a polyunsaturated fatty acid or a compound comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid, wherein the spore-forming microorganism is Mortierella alpina , which method comprises: (a) culturing the microorganism in a spore-forming medium at pH 4-7 containing a nutrient source comprising an inorganic salt and a saccharide, wherein the microorganism forms spores; (b) suspending the spores obtained in (a) in sterilized water, or sterilized water containing a surfactant and/or an inorganic salt to prepare a spore suspension, and adding a cryoprotectant at 5-15% to prepare a cryopreserving spore suspension; and (c) preserving the cryopreserving spore suspension obtained in (b) at between −100° C. and −20° C.