Gokulakrishnan R

The present study was made an attempt to optimize the growth parameters of the halobacteria for the mass scale production of carotenoids. The results suggested that, the pigmented KP2 showed maximum carotenoids production at 40ºC, 20% NaCl, pH 7, 1.5% sucrose, 1% beef extract, 1.5% manganese chloride and 1.5% proline. The KT2 showed maximum carotenoids production at 30ºC, 20% NaCl, pH 7, 0.5% glucose, 1.5% beef extract, 0.5% manganese chloride and 1% proline. Moreover, the KT3 showed maximum carotenoids production at 20ºC, 20% NaCl, pH 7, 1.5% sucrose, 0.5% beef extract, 1.5% copper sulphate and 0.5% proline. The identification of individual carotenoids was done by using thin layer chromatography through standard Rf value and the results suggested that, all the pigmented halobacteria contains three different carotenoids viz., bacterioruberin, mono-anhydrobacterioruberin and squalene. It is concluded from the present study that, the optimization of the microbial growth parameters of the halobacteria isolated from the saltpan of Kanyakumari district could be used for the mass scale production of pigmented carotenoids.