Download pdf Bacillus Sp. R2 Agarase Production: Medium Composition and Fermentation Conditions Optimization

Abstract

Agar, which can be degraded by agarase, is composed of agarose and agaropectin. Agarases producing microorganisms have been isolated from many sources, including seawater, marine sediments, marine algae, marine mollusks, fresh water, and soil. The present study was firstly planned to investigate the effect of medium composition and culture conditions on agarase production by Bacillus sp. r2 in shake flasks (submerged fermentation), using one factor at time technique (OFAT). The highest agarase activity was obtained in 0.2 % agar as essential carbon source, 0.2 % lactose as secondary carbon source, 0.5% NH4Cl   as nitrogen source, 5% NaCl and 5% as best inoculum size. The production also was optimum at initial pH: 7 temperature 30 ⁰C, and 24 h incubation period at 150 rpm shaking. The economic medium composition and culture condition and the agarase hyperactivity enlighten the potential application of Bacillus sp. r2 as promising new source for agarase production.