Abstract

A Lipomyces strains was isolated from shear butter leaf (Vitellaria paradoxa) by placing the leaf sample in 10 ml of sterile distilled water containing 0.002 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and incubated for 3 days at 28^oC. A drop of this was subsequently streaked nitrogen free medium. For determination of growth rate and volume of lipid produced, 24 h culture of the Lipomyces species isolated was washed into each of the following medium: yeast extract both (YE), nitrogen free broth (NF), maize broth free of salts (MF), maize broth with salts (MB), sorghum broth with salts (SB) and sorghum broth free of salts (SF). These were incubated for 7 days at 28^oC on a shaker, and the lipid produced was extracted by using diethyl ether. The Lipomycesspecies was found to be able to grow and produce lipid more efficiently in yeast extract broth than in other medium used. The organism produced 25 ml of lipid per 8 g of glucose in yeast extract broth.

Key words: Lipomyces species, Vitellaria paradoxa, yeast extract broth, lipid.