Carotenoids extraction and quantification PUF was washed with distilled water and filtered at vacuum
to separate the biomass and carotenoids. For extraction of carotenoids used the methodology reported by Taskin,Sisman, Erdal,and Kurbanoglu (2011) with some modifications. Filtrate was centrifuged at 8800 g for 15 min,the supernatant was discarded and the cell pellet was recovered. Dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)was subsequently added for cell wall disruption, mixture was heated at 60 1 C for 30 min with periodic vortex homogenization. Mixture was then treated with acetone,vortexed and centrifuged.Total carotenoid concentrations were quantified spectrophotometrically at an optical density of 480 nm. The presence of lycopene and β-carotene was detected by HPLC.