Statistical screening of media components for production of lactic acid by Lactobacillus sp. KCP01 using date juice as a sugar source was carried out by Plackett-Burman design. Date juice at 5% sugar concentration when used alone showed 2.6 g/l of lactic acid production. Increase in lactic acid production (15.1 g/l) was observed with supplementation of salts and organic nitrogen sources of MRS medium and after optimization of pH and temperature using date juice as a C-source. Plackett-Burman design showed peptone, K2HPO4, sodium acetate and date juice as significant components influencing the lactic acid production. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.