The Effect of Medium Components and Light Intensities on Astaxanthin Production by Haematococcus pluvialis

초록

Haematococcus pluvialis was cultured under various nitrogen concentrations and under different light intensities to stimulate astaxanthin production. Final cell concentration and chlorophyll concentration in control medium, after 20 days of culture, was significantly higher than in any deficient media. The cell size distributions were dramatically changed according to media compositions. In all cases, the average cell volume gradually increased as the culture time increased. Excess nitrogen in medium induced cell aggregation and carotenoid formation. Light intensity was one of the powerful factor for cell growth and astaxanthin production. Light intensities over 60 mE/m2/s stimulated cell growth and astaxanthin formation, while low light intensity, 15 mE/m2/s, kept Haematococcus cells in vegetative condition. Considering the final cell concentration and astaxanthin productivity, two stage culture system seems to be the best solution for astaxanthin production.