| dc.description.abstract | Beta-carotene, the major carotenoid accumulated in Dunaliella, is a valuable
compound, in high demand as a natural food coloring agent, pro-vitamin A,
additive to cosmetics, and health food. Dunaliella bardawil is a marine alga
currently capturing general public attention due to its high potential for beta-
carotene production. This special coumpound can be accumulated up to more
than 10% of the total dry weight under carotenogenic conditions, i.e, high
irradiance, high temperature, high salt concentration and nutrient deficiency.
However, beta-carotene content in Dunaliella cells depends much upon growth
conditions and nutrient components. A low cost natural seawater medium
yielding better growth (MD4) has been investigated (Tran et al., accepted
manuscript); however, the cell growth declined after 12 days of culture due to
nutrients limit. Hence, the aim of this study was to further improve the
effectiveness of this modified natural seawater medium. Algal cultures were
subjected to 13 treatments (TM1
TM13) using various chemicals and their
combination (NPK, KNO , KH PO ) with different concentrations. Cell density (cell
3
2
4
count, optical density), chlorophyll and total carotene content were analyzed and
compared from these treatments. The result obtained revealed that TM4 (NPK
0.15
g/l) was the best feeding treatment. Other treatments (TM5, TM6, TM7 and
TM11, TM12, TM13) could also be potential at least for sustaining the culture.
Keywords: Algae, carotene, chlorophyll, cultivation, Dunaliella, medium. | en_US |
