Effect of nitrate concentration on cell growth and astaxanthin accumulation in four different species of isolated microalgae in Malaysia

Abstract

Astaxanthin possess a red color pigment, a type of xanthophylls carotenoid and is mainly found in algae, fish and bird. In this study, cell growth and astaxanthin accumulation from four different isolated microalgae species based on their morphology were investigated. Isolated microalgae were cultured at three different nitrate concentration (1.64, 0.82, and 0.41 mM) and cell growth and astaxanthin were measured spectrophotometrically at 750 and 475 nm respectively. All species showed high growth rates at 1.64 mM nitrate concentration except for Pediastrum sp that is favorable in 0.82 mM nitrate. Among the four species, Ankistrodesmus sp showed the fastest growth rate. For the astaxanthin production, Ankistrodesmus and Pediastrum showed the highest yield. Thus it have a potential in production of astaxanthin in the future work.