Carotenoids are one of the most important and widely distributed pigments in nature and have essential biological functions in organisms. They also impart distinctive and attractive coloration to the breeding animals. Over the past two decades, application of microbial carotenoids has attracted the attention of researchers due to their natural and economic advantages. However, carotenoid producing yeasts with lactose assimilating capacity have rarely been studied and there are few references on the use of lactose as a carbon substrate, such as whey, for the biosynthesis of yeast carotenoids. In this study, a red carotenoid-producing yeast, Rhodotorula acheniorum, was isolated from the sap of birch trees at Masseh Chal in the Taleghan village. The yeast thus isolated was identified through microscopic, macroscopic and biochemical tests.

The yeast has both the abilities of lactose assimilation and carotenoid production. The optimal conditions of culture were determined and maximum biomass and carotenoid production were 9.9 g/lit, 290 µg/g, respectively. Chemical analyses of extracted carotenoids have shown that the major portion of the yeast consists of β-carotene, torulene and torularhodin. With regard to the fact that whey is one of the by-products of cheese industries and that its proper disposal has long been a major problem, the most desirable way of handling this waste is to utilize it as a substrate in the production of useful products such as carotenoids.