Influence of cultural conditions on lipid production by mutant strain of Rhodotorula glutinis MTCC 1151.

ABSTRACT

Mutant of Rhodotorula glutinis MTCC 1151 was found to produce high level of lipid (63.6% of biomass) as compared to parent strain (56.7% biomass). The lipid synthesizing capacity of mutant of R. glutinis was evaluated with different glucose concentrations, nitrogen sources, incubation time, and aeration-agitation. Maximum lipid yield (63.6% of biomass) was found with 5% glucose using ammonium sulfate (0.2%) as a nitrogen source under shake-flask conditions (50 ml broth in 250 ml conical flask at 125 rpm) after 4 days of incubation at 28 degrees C. The ability of ammonium sulfate to replace comparatively very costly yeast extract is highly appreciable.