The coefficients in terms of factors.

There is a high demand for microbial pigments as a promising alternative for synthetic pigments, primarily for safety and economic reasons. This study aimed at the optimization of yellowish-orange pigment production by Exiguobacterium aurantiacum using agro-waste extracts as a growth substrate. Air samples were collected using the depositional method. Pure cultures of pigment producing bacteria were isolated by subsequent culturing on fresh nutrient agar medium. The potent isolate was identified using MALDI-TOF technique. Screening of culture conditions was done via Plackett-Burman design that highlighted culture agitation rate, initial medium pH, and yeast extract concentration as the most significant variables (p