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γ-Linolenic acid production from Spirulina platensis

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Abstract

Various Spirulina strains were assayed for their productivity of γ-linolenic acid (γLnn). Spirulina platensis ARM-346 was found to accumulate large amounts of γLnn. Urea as a nitrogen source was found to be most effective giving a yield of 13.5 mg γLnn/g dry cell mass. With increase in temperature the γLnn content was found to increase along with biomass. The optimum temperature for maximum γLnn and biomass production was found to be 35°C. The γLnn content was highest at 0.06% (w/v) NaCl and 0.07% (w/v) K2HPO4. Cells cultivated in the orange region of the electromagnetic spectrum as energy source showed a high content of γLnn, and there was less biomass compared to cells grown in red light. When the culture was left in the dark for various times, after 144 h it contained about 26% more γLnn than in conventionally cultivated cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Chemical Technology, University of Bombay, Food and Fermentation Section, 400 019, Matunga, Bombay, India

    G. Mahajan & M. Kamat

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  1. G. Mahajan
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  2. M. Kamat
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Mahajan, G., Kamat, M. γ-Linolenic acid production from Spirulina platensis . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 43, 466–469 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218450

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218450

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