Abstract: Using the atmospheric and room temperature plasma(ARTP)to induce the carotenoid-producing Deinococcus wulumuqiensis R12, the mutant strain M1 was finally obtained by high-throughput screening with polystyrene plates as well as re-screening according to the content of carotenoid. The strain M1 produced 612 μg/g dry cell weight(DCW)of carotenoid after fermenting 72 h, 2.8 times of carotenoid by original D. wulumuqiensis R12(212 μg/g DCW), and heredity was stable. The carotenoid of the strain M1 showed stronger activity in high iron ion reducing power(OD₇₀₀ = 0.52)than that(OD₇₀₀ = 0.34)of original strain, and higher DPPH scavenging rate(33.33%)than 23.09%, indicating the mutant strain M1 possessed better anti-oxidative capacity. Under the same γ-ray and UV radiation dose, the strain M1 survived at higher rate than the original strain. Experimental results indicated that the strain M1 was superior to original D. wulumuqiensis R12 in the aspects of carotenoid content, anti-oxidative capacity of carotenoid and anti-radiation capacity of strain.

Key words: atmospheric and room temperature plasma, carotenoid, mutation, anti-oxidation