This study evaluated the influence of various carbon and nitrogen sources on the production of xanthan gum by Xanthomonas campestris isolated from soil sample. Yeast extract as nitrogen source gave highest yield of xanthan gum (4.8g/l) compared to any other nitrogen sources (beef extract, ammonium sulphate, peptone and tryptone) used in the production medium. The biomass yield (24.5g/l) was also highest with the use of yeast extract. However found no significant variations with other nitrogen sources. Among the carbon sources, sucrose produced maximum xanthan gum (3.6g/l). Though galactose yielded higher biomass (26.6g/l), the xanthan gum was found to be lesser in the medium (2.6g/l). The results indicate that, the production of xanthan gum was very much influenced by the carbon and nitrogen sources used in the production media.
