Carotenoid production in sugarcane juice and synthetic media supplemented with nutrients by Rhodotorula rubra l02

ABSTRACT In order for the use of biological carotenoids to become feasible, it is necessary to have adequate low cost sources and improved methods of cultivation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium, on the biomass and carotenoid volumetric production by yeast Rhodotorula rubra L02 using a complex medium (sugarcane juice) and synthetic media (sucrose and maltose) as substrates. The experimental design used for each substrate was randomized in blocks with 16 treatments and 3 repetitions. The treatments were compound for 15 different combinations of nutrients (N; Mg; Zn; P, N + Mg; N + Zn; N + P; Mg + Zn; Mg + P; Zn + P; N + P + Zn; N + P + Mg; N + Zn + Mg; P + Zn + Mg; N + Zn + Mg + P) alone and combined, and a control. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey test at 5% significance level. Among the treatments evaluated, the highest production of dry biomass, with both maltose and sucrose, was observed for Mg (1.60 g/L and 1.94 g/L, respectively). Additionally, another treatment that stood out in terms of biomass production was the control treatment with maltose (1.54 g/L). After the incubation time, killer activity was not observed since there was no formation of inhibition halo around the L02 yeast.

Interaction of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Rhizobium phaseoli and Rhodotorula sp. in bioleaching process based on Lotka-Volterra model

Background: Nowadays, leaching-ore bacteria, especially Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is widely used to retrieve heavy metals, many researches reflected that extra adding microorganism could promote bioleaching efficiency by different mechanisms, but few of them discussed the interaction between microorganisms and based on growth model. This study aimed to provide theoretical support for the collaborative bioleaching of multiple microorganisms by using the Lotka-Volterra (L-V) model. Results: This study investigated the interaction of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Rhizobium phaseoli,and Rhodotorula sp. Results showed that the individual growth of the three microorganisms fit the logistic curves. The environmental capacities of A. ferrooxidans, R. phaseoli, and Rhodotorula sp. were 1.88 x 109, 3.26 x 108, and 2.66 x 108 cells/mL, respectively. Co-bioleaching showed mutualism between A. ferrooxidans and R. phaseoli with mutualism coefficients of a =1.19and /3 = 0.31, respectively. The relationship between A. ferrooxidans and Rhodotorula sp. could be considered as commensalism. The commensalism coefficient y of the effect of Rhodotorula sp. on A. ferrooxidans was 2.45. The concentrations of A. ferrooxidans and R. phaseoli were 3.59 x 109 and 1.44 x 109 cells/mL in group E, respectively, as predicted by the model. The concentrations of A. ferrooxidans and Rhodotorula sp. were 2.38 x 109 and 2.66 x 108 cells/mL, respectively. The experimental peak values of the concentrations in microorganism groups E and F were detected on different days, but were quite close to the predicted values. Conclusion: The relationship among microorganisms during leaching could be described appropriately by Lotka-Volterra model between the initial and peak values. The relationship of A. ferrooxidans and R. phaseoli could be considered as mutualism, whereas, the relationship of A. ferrooxidans and R. phaseoli could be considered as commensalism.