Abstract: A cordycepin high-yielding mutants had been screened. The original strain Cordyceps militaris producing cordycepin was treated with 60Co-γ- UV irradiation and its fermentation conditions were optimized for cordycepin production.The results showed that solid state fermentation conditions were initial temperature 24℃, late temperature 21℃. Under these conditions, the yield of cordycepin reached 9.595 mg/g, which was 132.9% higher than that of original strains. The strain was continuously sub-cultured to the 12 generation and remained steady after subculture, in addition, 100.2% was improved by cultivation of the mutagenesis strain. In conclusion, a high cordycepin-producing strain C1-7 was successfully screened, which has potential application value in practice.

Key words: cordycepin, combined mutation, Cordyceps militaris, response surface methodology