Pigment production by Exiguobacterium aurantiacum FH, a novel Lebanese strain

Abstract

A B S T R A C T An orange pigmented strain of Exiguobacterium aurantiacum FH was isolated from air. The analysis of pigment produced revealed the presence of carotenoids. Both carotenes and xanthophylls were detected in the methanolic extract of carotenoids. The carotenoids produced were characterized by considerable stability and demonstrated antifungal activity against Fusarium sp., Penicilium sp., and Alternatria sp.. By optimization of the factors affecting carotenoid production, cellular pigment content (534.51 µg pigment /g dry weight) was recorded when E. aurantiacum FH was cultivated at 30 °C under shaken condition (150 rpm) in 250 Erlenmeyer flasks containing 40 ml LB medium (pH 7), for three days in light .