EFFECT OF CORN STEEP LIQUOR ON XANTHAN PRODUCTION BY XANTHOMONAS-CAMPESTRIS

The addition of corn steep liquor (CSL) to batch cultures of Xanthomon as campestris using sucrose as carbon source stimulated cell growth ra te, viscosity and xanthan production as compared to non-supplemented c ultures. The addition of CSL to a basal medium at a dose of 1 g/l, inc reased xanthan production and viscosity by 22% and 44% respectively. C SL also shortened the cultivation time and promoted a more efficient s ucrose utilization for polymer synthesis, After 72 h of incubation the xanthan yield per sucrose consumed in the CSL-amended culture was 0.6 3 g/g, this is, 15% higher than without CSL addition. At higher doses of CSL cell growth rate was also increased but not polymer production.