OPTIMUM MEDIUM FOR MASS CULTURE OF MARINE MICROALGA NANNOCHLOROPSIS SALINASHYAM KUMAR S AND A.V. SARAMMAAbstract Microalgae are microscopic photosynthetic thallophytes mainly distributed in aquatic habitats. They support aquatic food chains and are considered as the major primary producers on earth. Since 1950s microalgae have been subjected to applied research. Among thousands of microalgae, only a few are commercially viable. Nannochloropsis salina is a marine microalga with high commercial potential. They are used as an aquaculture feed, source of PUFA etc. but the cost of mass culture is a limiting factor in the growth of aquaculture industry worldwide. Hence the cost of mass culture should be minimized in order to make it commercially feasible. Present study analyses the nutritional requirement of N. salina and has formulated a new cost-effective mass culture medium using Guillards f/2 medium as the base. Nitrate, phosphate, iron and cobalt were identified as essential nutrients for mass culture. The new media formulation was tested in indoor mass culture against f/2 medium and fertilizer medium, which produced commendable results in growth and biochemical composition of N. salina.
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