Abstract
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.