biostudies-literatureUnknown110(1)Delgado Cuadros ALMicrobial production of carotenoids provides a sustainable alternative to plant-derived sources. In this study, a yeast strain, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa LB-01, was isolated and its carotenoid biosynthetic potential was evaluated. Medium optimization (10 g/L glucose and 3 g/L yeast extract) improved relative carotenoid accumulation, reaching 10.13 Abs/g dry biomass. The influence of light quality was subsequently assessed, showing that blue LED illumination was associated with higher relative carotenoid accumulation (12.4 Abs/g) compared with red, orange, white, and green light conditions. Cultivation in a stirred-tank bioreactor (2.5 L working volume) under blue LED illumination resulted in further increases in carotenoid accumulation, reaching 16 Abs/g and 311 µg/g dry biomass, correspondApplied microbiology and biotechnology75https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12932285biostudies-literatureBlue LED-assisted bioreactor cultivation enhances carotenoid accumulation in Rhodotorula mucilaginosa LB-01.PMC12932285Colina Andrade GTeran Hilares RGarcia Bustos KTejada Meza KDelgado Cuadros ALOrtiz Silos NfalseBlue LED-assisted bioreactor cultivation enhances carotenoid accumulation in Rhodotorula mucilaginosa LB-01.Microbial production of carotenoids provides a sustainable alternative to plant-derived sources. In this study, a yeast strain, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa LB-01, was isolated and its carotenoid biosynthetic potential was evaluated. Medium optimization (10 g/L glucose and 3 g/L yeast extract) improved relative carotenoid accumulation, reaching 10.13 Abs/g dry biomass. The influence of light quality was subsequently assessed, showing that blue LED illumination was associated with higher relative carotenoid accumulation (12.4 Abs/g) compared with red, orange, white, and green light conditions. Cultivation in a stirred-tank bioreactor (2.5 L working volume) under blue LED illumination resulted in further increases in carotenoid accumulation, reaching 16 Abs/g and 311 µg/g dry biomass, correspond2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-16T20:45:54.655Z2026-07-10T03:11:59.178ZS-EPMC129322854173366510.1007/s00253-026-13760-x