The effect of light on the growth and astaxanthin production from Phaffia rhodozyma grown on media containing various carbon source had been studied. P. rhodozyma were grown in batch fermentation condition with glucose, fructose as carbon source and irradiated with light (500 lux) for both red and white light (polychromatic) and without light (dark) at room temperature (27±2 0C) for 5 days. Astaxanthin produced in light and dark conditions were extracted from the biomass, then identified and quantified by absorption spectra using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The growth rate of P. rhodozyma in dark condition was greater than under light exposure condition, eventhough it was not significant. Astaxanthin production of yeast was also notably changed by light. P. rhodozyma produced greater amounts of astaxanthin in light condition rather than in dark condition. However, the production of these carotenoids does not follow the same pattern based on the carbon source. When P. rhodozyma grew under fermentative conditions with different carbon source light conditions, the rate of astaxanthin production from the highest to the lowest are in yeast grown in glucose, fructose and without carbon source respectively.

        Kata kunci: Phaffia rhodozyma, cell growth, astaxanthin, glucose, fructose, light effect