Culture of the astaxanthinogenic yeastPhaffia rhodozyma in low-cost media

Abstract

Growth of the yeastPhaffia 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 astaxanthin, an oxygenated pink carotenoid useful for fish flesh staining, was improved along with with good cell yields (respective values of >1300 μg/g cells and >5 g cells/L were observed). Yeast invertase and urease must therefore play an important role in the implementation of low-cost culture media.