Effect of culture conditions on growth of green alga - Haematococcus pluvialis and astaxanthin production

Influence of culture conditions such as light, temperature and C/N ratio was studied on growth of Haematococcus pluvialis and astaxanthin production. Light had significant effect on astaxanthin production and it varied with its intensity and direction of illumination and effective culture ratio (ECR, volume of culture medium/volume of flask). A 6-fold increase in astaxanthin production (37 mg/L) was achieved with 5.1468.10(7) erg.m(-2).s(-1) light intensity (high light, HL) at effective culture ratio of 0.13 compared to that at 0.52 ECR, while the difference in the astaxanthin production was less than 2 fold between the effective culture ratios at 1.6175.10(7) erg.m(-2).s(-1) light intensity (low light, LL). Multidirectional (three-directional) light illumination considerably enhanced the astaxanthin production (4-fold) compared to unidirectional illumination. Cell count was high at low temperature (25 degreesC) while astaxanthin content was high at 35 degreesC in both autotrophic and heterotrophic media. In a heterotrophic medium at low C/N ratio H. pluvialis growth was higher with prolonged vegetative phase, while high C/N ratio favoured early encystment and higher astaxanthin formation.