STATISTICAL OPTIMIZATION OF MEDIUM COMPONENTS FOR CAROTENOID PRODUCTION USING AN INDIGENOUS ISOLATE RHODOCOCCUS KROPENSTEDTII

Abstract

Carotenoid's functional and qualitative applicability in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries creates a demand for new carotenoid producers. In the present work, indigenously isolated Rhodococcus kropenstedtii, a non-photosynthetic bacteria producing a range of carotenoid pigments, was used. Statistical technique involving one-factor-at-a-time and response surface methodology were adopted to acquire the best medium for carotenoid production by R. kropenstedtii. The one-factor-at-a-time approach helped in the initial screening of media components while response surface methodology (RSM) involving four factors at three different levels determined the optimum values of the screened components for maximum carotenoid production.The optimal combination of media components included glycerol-8.75 g/L, beef extract-20g/L, ammonium sulphate- 2g/L and magnesium chloride-4g/L that gave maximum production of 0.38 μg/g of carotenoid, which was 2.1 fold more than the basal medium.