title: Alteration of the biomass composition of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis under various amounts of limited phosphorus.
abstract: In this study the biomass composition alteration of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis under various amounts of limited phosphorus is studied. It was observed that the alteration of the compounds of the biomass occurred gradually as the phosphorus became limited. Carbohydrates and lipids increased from about 9% up to 65% and from about 4.9% up to 7.5%, respectively, while proteins decreased from about 46.5% to 25% as the phosphorus became limited. The increasing of carbohydrates and lipids in addition to the decrease of proteins resulted to an increase of the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio from about 4.6 to 12.2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources Management and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece. markoug@aua.gr
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Markou
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D053545:Spirulina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D010758:Phosphorus