Optimization of carotenoid production from hyper-producing Rhodotorula glutinis mutant 32 by a factorial approach

Optimization of carotenoid production by a mutant of Rhodotorula glutinis.

The growth and carotenoid production was optimized in shake flasks using a two-level, three-variable factorial design.

The volumetric carotenoid production could be increased to 129 +/- 2 mg x 1(-1) in a medium containing (g x l(-1)) yeast extract 11.74, glucose 46 and threonine 18 along with other micronutrients, wherein, beta-carotene yield was 102 +/- 2 mg x l(-1), accounting for 80% of the total carotenoids.

The medium optimization resulted in a fourfold increase in volumetric production and a twofold increase in the cellular accumulation of carotenoids. In view of such high yields, the mutant of Rhodotorula glutinis can be a potential source of beta-carotene.