The pigment composition of Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae cells upon cultivated on biogenic-deficient media

Abstract

The accumulation of carotenoids (carotenogenesis) in the cells of Haematococcus pluvialis (strain IBCE H-17) upon cultivation in nutrient media deficient in nutrient elements (N and K + P) is shown. K and P deficiency in nutrient medium led to accumulation of astaxanthin, β-carotene, anteraxanthin, zeaxanthin and violaxanthin after 18 days of cultivation, while the amount of neoxanthin and lutein was at the control level. Carotenogenesis under such conditions was accompanied by high levels of chlorophyll (a + b). The use of nutrient medium deficient in N led to the accumulation of astaxanthin and, to a lesser extent, β-carotene in haematococcus cells, while lutein, anteraxanthin, zeaxanthin, violaxanthin and neoxanthin levels were lower or the same as control. N deficiency caused the decrease in amount of chlorophyll (a + b). Nitrogen deficiency was 4.3 times more effective than control medium and 1.8 times more effective than combined potassium and phosphorus deficiency in promoting astaxanthin accumulation.