MARZIEH MOOSAVI NASAB - Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran
Elaheh Abedi - Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran
Sahar Moosavi-Nasab - Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran

The potential use of date syrup, for the production of carotenoids by Rhodotorula glutinisin batch fermentation process, was investigated during ۷ days. The results revealed that carbon (glucose or date syrup) and nitrogen sources [yeast extract, (NH۴)۲SO۴ and NH۴NO۳] had a significant influence on biomass and carotenoid production. Maximum yield of total carotenoid production (۷.۹۴ mg/L) with carotene content (۲۰۴۰ μg/g) and biomass (۳.۹۰ g/L) was obtained from R. glutinis after ۷ days of fermentation in a substrate containing date syrup and yeast extract. The highest biomass (۸.۰۳ g/L) was obtained in the culture containing glucose and yeast extract, while the total carotenoid content of ۶.۷۲ mg/L with ۸۳۶.۸۶ μg/g carotene was produced in this medium. Significant differences were observed when comparing the average biomass and total carotenoid productions in different cultures and fermentation times. Our results demonstrated that date syrup (from low quality dates), as aby-product at a lower price, could be profitably used as a suitable carbon source for carotenoid production by R. glutinis.

By-Product, Date Syrup, Microbial Carotenoid, Rhodotorula glutinis