Comparison of exopolysaccharide production by indigenous Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains in whey medium

Two Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains NCDC 744 and NCDC 745 were evaluated for exopolysaccharides (EPS) production in whey and MRS medium. Paneer whey medium supplemented with 10% sucrose, 0.1% yeast extract and 0.1% K₂HPO₄ was found to be proferred medium for EPS production. Among two strains L. mesenteroides NCDC 744 produced significantly higher EPS (12.7 ± 0.24 gm/L) as compared to NCDC 745 (10.51 ± 0.18 gm/L). The EPS powder obtained from NCDC 744 after oven drying was white, crystalline, water soluble and contained 89.56 ± 0.37% of total carbohydrate and 3.49 ± 0.14% protein. Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) study revealed that the EPS from NCDC 744 was porous, compact and crystalline in appearance.