PRODUCCIÓN DE BIOMASA DE LA MICROALGA MARINA CHROOMONAS SP. , EN FUNCIÓN DEL PH, INTENSIDAD LUMINOSA Y SALINIDAD

Abstract

We report the characterization of a marine microalga of the genus Chroomonas, isolated from a salt lagoon located to the north of Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela. We evaluated the growth and the pigment production in discontinuous culture at different salinites (5, 10, 35, 50, 70 Y 100 ppm),Iight intensites (39,78,117 and 156 µmol quanta.m-2.s-1) and pH (5.0,5.5,6.0,7.0, 8.0 and 9.0). The highest cellular density, 117.99±2.62x106 cel.ml-1, was reached at 35ppm, 156 µmol quanta.m-2.s-1 of light intensity and a pH between 6.0 and 8.0. The cellular content of total chlorophyll and carotenoids increased with the salinity up to 100 ppm, with amounts of 246.55±61.8 and 69.79±18.19 fg.cel-1 respectively. The cellular productivity 4.31x109 cel.l-1d-1 was obteined when the microalga, was grown in semi-continuous culture, at a 2.0 I volume and at a daily renewal rate of 30 % (v/v). The total amount of chlorophyll and carotenoids 1.4 mg.l-1.d-1 and 0.48 mg.l-1.d-1 respectively. This results indicate that this planktonic microalga could be used as daily live food for larvae in aquaculture and for the production of microalgaI biomass and/or pigments.