Isolation of Pigmented Microorganisms and Identification of Their Pigments
Siriwan Wichai [a], Supawadee Sriyam [b] and Suree Phutrakul [a]* Author for corresponding; e-mail address: -
Volume: Vol.28 No.1 (JUNE 2001)
Opinion
DOI:
Received: 13 December 2000, Revised: -, Accepted: 13 March 2001, Published: -
Citation: Wichai S., Sriyam S. and Phutrakul S., Isolation of Pigmented Microorganisms and Identification of Their Pigments , Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 2001; 28(1): 1-8.
Abstract
Eighty-one isolates of pigmented microorganisms were isolated from natural sources by using spread plate technique with Yeast extract malt extract agar, Yeast extract peptone dextrose agar, Potato dextrose agar and Malt extract agar. From the total, 73 isolates were identified as pigmented yeasts; 3 isolates as black yeasts; 4 isolates as pigmented molds and one isolate was red bacterium. All of pigments were classified in different groups according to their chemical structures by chemical methods. It was found that some isolates of carotenoid producing yeast could also produce flavonoid. The four isolates of pigmented yeasts; 3B1, 3F2, 2A1 and 3R4, later identified as Rhodotorula glutinis produced higher carotenoid than the others. Black yeasts, 2E1, B1 and E could produce melanin. The optimum time for melanin production was 13 days in Yeast extract malt extract broth and 7 days in Yeast extract malt extract agar. Two isolates of pigmented molds, RF1 and GF produced naphthoquinone and one isolate, RF2 produced anthraquinone. The flavonoid from pigmented mold was found in YF isolate. A red bacterium, Serratia sp. RB1 isolated from blood red Russula (Russula sanguinea Fr.) produced high yield of pyrrole pigment.