Optimization of Culture Conditions and Carotenoid Pigments production by Micrococcus spp. And Rhodotorula spp.

Biological sources of pigments receive major attention nowadays because of the stringent rules and regulations applied to chemically synthesized pigments. The aims of this study were isolating carotenoids producing Micrococcus spp < em>. and Rhodotorula spp. from soil sources, optimizing the culture conditions for biomass and carotenoids production and its identification.

Carotenoid producing strains, M. luteus and R. mucilaginosa, were isolated from the soil and sediment samples in Kerman Province, Iran; they were identified using 16SrDNA analysis. Optimum conditions for biomass and carotenoids production were determined. FT-IR and spectrophotometry analysis showed high similarity of extracted pigments with carotenoids.

The optimum temperature of growth and pigment production was 25º C. for both of bacteria and yeasts. The optimum pH for bacteria was 7 and for yeasts 6.5.  1% of carbon source for both of them was the optimum condition while about nitrogen source, 2% for bacteria and 1% for yeasts were the optimum condition for growth and pigment production.

Microorganisms presented in this study can be used as potential sources of commercial carotenoids production in Kerman, Iran.