Effect of copper stress on biochemical profiling in Dunaliella salina (teod.) And spirulina platensis (gomo.)

Abstract

Growth, lipids, carbohydrates as well as fatty acid compositions of a native microalga in Dunaliella salina (Teod.) and Spirulina platensis (Gomo.) were studied in batch culture at light intensity 100 µ mol photons m^-2 s^-1 temperature 25 ± 1^oC and 16:8 h light and dark diurnal cycles. Carbohydrate content decreased with increasing concentration of Cu stress. The lipid content also showed the same scenario. Further GC-MS profiling of lipids showed various compounds separated according to their retention time in which most of the compounds were fatty acid methyl ester.  With further augmentations of lipid & carbohydrate content and improved fatty acids, the native microalga strain could be a potent candidate for aqua-culture feeding and or biofuel production.