Abstract
The quantitative and qualitative effects of light on carotenoid production by Spirulina were studied. Maximum total carotenoid production was measured in cells grown under white light at an irradiance of 432 μmol photon m−2 s−1, the onset of light saturation for this organism as determined by growth rates. A true maximum may exist at irradiances above 1500 μmol photon m−2 s−1 under white light.
Individual carotenoids responded differently to light conditions. Under white light, β-carotene and echinenone were most abundant at the lowest and highest irradiance levels tested. Myxoxanthophyll and lutein/zeaxanthin did not change over the same irradiance range. Under red and blue light, we found decreased values of myxoxanthophyll, while β-carotene increased and lutein/zeaxanthin and echinenone showed little change. In general, maximum carotenoid production requires optimization of the culture conditions that favor growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Braumann T, Grimme LH (1981) Reversed-phase liquid chromatography of chlorophylls and carotenoids. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 637: 8–17.
Ciferri O (1983) Spirulina, the edible microorganism. Biol. Review, December 1983: 551–578.
Evans EH, England R, Manwaring J (1983) Structure and variations in photosystem II of cyanobacteria. In Papageorgiou GC, Packer L (eds), Photosynthetic Prokaryotes. Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., N.Y., 175–183.
Falkowski PG (1980) Light-shade adaptation in phytoplankton. In Falkowski PG (ed.), Primary Productivity in the Sea. Plenum Press, N.Y., 99–119.
Fiksdahl A, Foss P, Liaaen-Jensen S (1983) Carotenoids of blue-green algae-11. Carotenoids of chromatically-adapted Cyanobacteria. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 76B: 599–601.
Fork DC (1977) Photosynthesis. In Smith KC (ed.), The Science of Photobiology. Plenum Publishing Co., N.Y., 329–369.
Fujita Y, Hattori A (1960) Effect of chromatic lights on phycobilin formation in a blue-green alga, Tolypothrix tenuis. Pl. Cell Physiol. 1: 293–303.
Goedheer JC (1969) Energy transfer from carotenoids to chlorophyll in blue-green, red and green algae and greening bean leaves. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 172: 252–265.
Goodwin TW (1980) Functions of carotenoids. In Goodwin TW (ed.), The Biochemistry of the Carotenoids, Chapter 3. Chapman and Hall, N.Y., 77–95.
Gressel J (1979) Blue light photoreception. Photochem. Photobiol. 30: 749–754.
Hattori A, Fujita Y (1959) Formation of phycobilin pigments in a blue-green alga, Tolypothrix tenuis, as induced by illumination with colored lights. J. Biochem. 46: 521–524.
Hladik J, Pancoska P, Sofrova D (1983) Cyanobacterial chlorophyll-protein complexes. The role of carotenoids in their assembly. In Papageorgiou GC, Packer L (eds), Photosynthetic Prokaryotes. Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., N.Y., 103–118.
Holt TK, Krogmann DW (1981) A carotenoid-protein from cyanobacteria. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 637: 408–414.
Jeffrey SW (1981) Responses to light in aquatic plants. In Lange OL, Noble PS, Osmond CB, Ziegler H (eds), Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, Volume 12A. Springer-Verlag, Verlin, 249–276.
Jürgens UJ, Weckesser J. (1985) Carotenoid-containing outer membrane of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6714. J. Bact. 164: 384–389.
Kawamura M, Mimuro M, Fujita Y (1979) Quantitative relationship between two reaction centers in the photosynthetic system of blue-green algae. Pl. Cell Physiol. 20: 697–705.
Kawamura M, and Fujita Y (1983) Some characteristics of photosynthetic electron flow system in blue-green algae Cyanobacteria). In Papageorgiou GC, Parker L (eds), Photosynthetic Prokaryotes. Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., N.Y., 127–145.
Krinsky NI (1979) Carotenoid protection against oxidation. Pure and Appl. Chem. 51: 649–660.
Mimuro M, Fujita Y (1977) Estimation of chlorophyll a distribution in the photosynthetic pigment systems I and II of the blue-green alga Anabaena variabilis. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 459: 376–389.
Myers J, Kratz WA (1955) Relation between pigment content and photosynthetic characteristics in a blue-green alga. J. Gen. Physiol. 39: 11–22.
Ogawa T, Vernon LO, Mollenhauer HH (1969) Properties and structures of fractions prepared from Anabaena variabilis by the action of Triton X-100. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 172: 216–229.
Omata T, Murata N (1983) Isolation and characterization of the cytoplasmic membranes from the blue-green alga (Cyanobacterium) Anacystic nidulans. Plant Cell Physiol. 24: 1101–1112.
Oquist G (1974) Distribution of chlorophyll between the two photoreactions in photosynthesis of the blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans grown at two different light intensities. Physiol. Plant. 30: 38–44.
Palla JC, Busson F (1969) Etude des carotenoids de Spirulina platensis (Gom.) Geitler (Cyanophycées) C. R. Acad. Sc. Paris, 269: 1704–1707.
Perry MJ, Talbot MC, Alberte RS (1981) Photoadaptation in marine phytoplankton: Response of the photosynthetic unit. Mar. Biol. 62: 91–101.
Post AF, de Wit R, Mur LR (1985) Interactions between temperature and light intensity on growth and photosynthesis of the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria agardhii. J. Plank. Res. 7: 487–495.
Raps S, Wyman K, Siegelman HW, Falkowski PG (1983) Adaptation of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to light intensity. Plant Physiol. 72: 829–832.
Rau W, Shrott EL (1979) Light mediated biosynthesis in plants Photochem. Photobiol. 30: 755–765.
Resch CM, Gibson J (1983) Isolation of the carotenoid-containing cell wall of three unicellular Cyanobacteria. J. Bact. 155: 345–350.
Santillan C (1982) Mass production of Spirulina. Experientia 30: 40–43.
Schmid GH, List H, Radunz A (1977) Inhibition of photosystem II-reactions in blue-green algae by the antisera to lutein and neoxanthin. Z. Naturforsch. 32c: 118–124.
Senger H (1982) The effect of blue light on plants and microorganisms. Photochem. Photobiol. 35: 911–920.
Senger H Briggs WR (1981) The blue light receptor(s): Primary reactions and subsequent metabolic changes. Photochem. Photobiol. Rev. 6: 1–38.
Siefermann-Harms D (1980) The role of carotenoids in chloroplasts of higher plants. In Mazliak P, Beneviste P, Costes C, Douce R (eds), Biogenesis and function of plant lipids. Elsevier North-Holland Biochemical Press, Amsterdam, 331–340.
Szalontai B, Csatorday K (1979) Changes in phycocyanincarotenoid association during nitrate starvation of Anacystis nidulans. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 88: 1294–1300.
Szalontai B. Van de Ven M (1981) Raman spectroscopic evidence for phycocyanin-carotenoid interaction in Anacyctis nidulans. FEBS Letters 131: 155–157.
Tanaka Y, Matsuguchi H, Katayama T (1974) Comparative biochemistry of carotenoids in algae-IV. Carotenoids in Cyanophyta, blue-green algae, Spirulina platensis. Mem. Fac. Fish., Kagoshima Univ. 23: 111–115.
Tandeau de Marsac N (1977) Occurrence and nature of chromatic adaptation in Cyanobacteria. J. Bact. 130: 82–91.
Utkilen HC, Briseid T, Eriksson B (1983) Variation in photosynthetic membrane and pigment content with light intensity for Anacystis nidulans grown in continuous cultures. J. Gen. Microbiol. 129: 1717–1720.
Vesk M, Jeffrey SW (1977) Effect of blue-green light on photosynthetic pigments and chloroplast structure in unicellular marine algae from six classes. J. Phycol. 13: 280–288.
Virgin HI (1966) Carotenoid synthesis in leaves of wheat after irradiation by red light. Physiol. Plant. 19: 40–46.
Zarrouk C (1966) Contribution a l'étude d'une cyanophycée sur la croissance de la photosynthese de Spirulina maxima (Stech et Gardner). Thèse, Paris.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Author for Correspondence
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olaizola, M., Duerr, E.O. Effects of light intensity and quality on the growth rate and photosynthetic pigment content of Spirulina platensis . J Appl Phycol 2, 97–104 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023370
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023370