The spectrum of light and nutrients required to increase the production of phycocyanin Spirulina platensis

Abstract

Spirulina platensis is one of the microalgae that have several active ingredients that can be used in fisheries, pharmaceuticals, food additives and cosmetics, and one of them contains a high level of phycocyanin. Different light qualities can be used to increase the production of cyanobacterium phycocyanin. Some of the light spectrum can affect pigment synthesis, and besides that, nutrients are also very important to maintain the quantity, quality and production of Spirulina platensis in the biosynthesis of phycbiliprotein (phycocyanin and phycoerythrin). This study aims to determine whether there was an influence from a combination of the color spectrum of light and nutrient composition on the phycocyanin production of Spirulina platensis. The research method was experimental. The study used a combination of two light spectra (red and blue) as well as two different nutrients (Walneand technical nutritional modification and MT). Each treatment combination was repeated four times. The results showed that the light spectrum and nutrient composition had an effect on Spirulina platensis production. The combination of the nutrient MT and red spectrum resulted in the highest production of phycocyanin and a dry weight of Spirulina of 5.1078 mgg−1 and 0.6677/0.5 g L−1 respectively. This was significantly different (P<0.05) compared to the other treatment combinations.