Effect of nutrient depletion on beta-carotene and glycerol accumulation in two strains of Dunaliella sp.
The response of two strains of Dunaliella, a beta-carotene accumulating halotolerant alga, was evaluated under sulphate, nitrate and phosphate limitation. All these factors decreased the growth rate and chlorophyll content but, increased the beta-carotene content of the two isolates of Dunaliella, D1, obtained from GTCC and D2 an indigenous strain isolated from Sambhar salt lake, India. Both the strains exhibited accumulation of beta-carotene and glycerol under the different nutrient limiting conditions. A maximum accumulation of 3.99 pg/cell of beta-carotene was observed under phosphate depletion. However, nutrient depletion did not significantly affect the glycerol accumulation in these cells. D2, the indigenous isolate, was found to be a better accumulator of beta-carotene than D1.
Phadwal
Kanchan
K
Bioinformatics Center, Dr. G.R.D. College of Sciences, Coimbatore 641014, Tamil Nadu, India. k_phadwal@yahoo.com
Singh
P K
PK
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000378:metabolism*
D003470:Culture Media; D009566:Nitrates; D010710:Phosphates; D013431:Sulfates; D019207:beta Carotene; D002734:Chlorophyll; D005990:Glycerol