Saccharina japonica,a potential feedstock for pigment production using submerged fermentation

In this study, the feasibility and applicability of marine algal biomass Saccharina (Laminaria) japonica as a sole substrate for the production of pigments by Talaromyces amestolkiae GT11 in submerged fermentation was evaluated. Results indicated that the fungus T. amestolkiae GT11 produced the highest amount of extracellular yellow (444.83 ± 22) and red (200.94 ± 12), and intracellular yellow (362.28 ± 34) and red (193.87 ± 10) pigments, utilizing 1% (w/v) of S. japonica powder at an initial pH of 5 and 30°C, as compared to other physiochemical parameters tested. The pH and thermostability analysis results demonstrated that even after 5 h of incubation the pigment was found to be highly stable at pH 6 and 40 ~ 60°C with 98% and 90.56 ~ 84.69% of residual absorbance, respectively. Apart from the application of pigment as a natural colorant instead of synthetic one in biotechnology industry, the fermented substrate itself can be exploited as food and feed with enhanced nutrient content, improved protein quality and fiber digestibility, etc. However, further studies concerning the safety and functional properties of the pigment and fermented substrate are required. Furthermore, this study provides the evidences about the biological method of making easily fermentable biomass for biorefiners or other metabolite production.