CULTURE OF THE ASTAXANTHINOGENIC YEAST PHAFFIA-RHODOZYMA IN LOW-COST MEDIA

Growth of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma was carried out in a simplified medium based on less expensive nutrient sources, such as diluted sugar cane juice, urea, and sodium phosphate. The usual content of the asta xanthin, an oxygenated pink carotenoid useful for fish flesh staining, was improved along with with good cell yields (respective values of > 1300 mu g/g cells and >5 g cells/L, were observed). Yeast invertase an d urease must therefore play an important role in the implementation o f low-cost culture media.