Studies on the promoters of carotenoid fermentation by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

We studied the effects of several additives on the yield of carotenoid fermented by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. In the shake flask condition, different concentrations of tomato juice, peanut oil, soybean oil, corn steep liquor, sodium glutamate and biotin were added to the fermentation medium respectively, and the carotened yields as well as R.mucilaginosa biomass were measured after 72 h. The results show that when 2 mL·L^-1 tomato juice, 1.5 mL·L^-1 peanut oil, and 3 mL·L^-1 corn steep liquor are added, the yields of carotenoids are increased by 14.2%, 30.3% and 21.3% respectively. However, sodium glutamate and biotin may inhibit the synthesis of carotenoid by R.mucilaginosa. Therefore, tomato juice, peanut oil and corn steep liquor are good promoter for carotenoid fermentation by R. mucilaginosa, which may have great potential for applications in the future.