Optimizing β-carotene production by Blakeslea trispora using bug damaged wheat
Abstract
Purpose
β-carotene, found naturally in many foods, has been widely used as a colourant in various products. The aim of this study is to optimize the production of β-carotene by Blakeslea trispora using bug-damaged wheat as the main nitrogen and carbon source.
Design/methodology/approach
Response surface methodology (RSM) has been used to determine the optimum concentrations of media components for the maximum β-carotene production. β-carotene concentration was determined quantitively using a spectrophotometric method.
Findings
A full quadratic model fit the data best for β-carotene production with a high R2 value (0.999). Using optimized media increased the production of β-carotene by B. trispora DSM-2387 and B. trispora DSM-2388 to a higher level (250.407 mg/l) than the control medium (72.195 mg/l).
Originality/value
This study showed that bug-damaged wheat, an agro-industrial waste having low economical value, may be used as a valuable substrate for microbial production of β-carotene, a natural food colourant possessing high economical value.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Namik Kemal University Scientific Research Projects Fund for the support of the study with the project coded NKUBAP.00.24.AR.13.10.
Citation
Durakli Velioglu, S. and Tirpanci Sivri, G. (2018), "Optimizing β-carotene production by
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited