Influence of growth factors on carotenoid pigmentation of Rhodotorula glutinis DFR-PDY from natural source

Abstract

A red yeast (Rhodotorula glutinis DFR-PDY) strain, isolated from a contaminated Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plate, was evaluated for its growth and pigment production. The yeast was able to grow and produce carotenoid pigments over a wide range of pH from 2.5 to 9.5 (optimum pH 5.5) and at ambient temperature of 29-32 o C in a modified Czapek Dox broth after 12 days of incubation. However, light was not a limiting factor for the growth and pigmentation of the red yeast. Among the various nitrogen and carbon sources examined, maximum growth and pigmentation was observed in sodium nitrate as nitrogen source and glucose and fructose as carbon sources. Thin layer chromatography of the extracted carotenoid pigments revealed the presence of four colour components.