Effects of light intensity and the remaining nitrate concentration on the beta-carotene accumulation of a wild Dunaliella salina strain isolated from the saline soil

Abstract

An isolated <em>Dunaliella salina</em> strain from northern Thailand was cultured in modified Johnson’s medium in column photobioreactor. The beta-carotene accumulation mainly depended on the quantities of cells entering into carotenogenesis condition that was significantly enhanced by high started KNO3 concentration. Low remaining nitrate concentration in the culture of each cell (RNCC) was suitable for algae to accumulate beta-carotene. Following the cultivation time extended, RNCC of all cultures decreased and tended to the same level (10-20 pg/cell) although the biomass or betacarotene content in the culture was higher in high started KNO3 concentration. High light intensity restrained the growth especially in low KNO3 concentration but improved betacarotene accumulation and RNCC. The highest biomass and beta-carotene dry weight (DW) were 2.25 g L-1 and 79.2 mg g-1 DW respectively. Above results indicated that increasing the biomass and as early as possible to strengthen the stress on each cell was important to improve the final beta-carotene yield.