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Outdoor cultivation of lutein-rich cells of Muriellopsis sp. in open ponds

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Abstract

The growth performance of the chlorophycean microalga Muriellopsis sp. outdoors in open tanks agitated with a paddlewheel and its ability to accumulate carotenoids have been evaluated throughout the year. The cells grown in the open system had free lutein as the main carotenoid, with violaxanthin, β-carotene, and neoxanthin also present. Lutein content of the dry biomass ranged from 0.4 to 0.6%, depending on the growth and environmental conditions. In addition, the biomass of Muriellopsis sp. had a high content in both protein and lipids with about half of the fatty acids being of the polyunsaturated type, with α-linolenic acid accounting for almost 30% of the total fatty acids. The effect of determinant parameters on the performance of the cultures in open tanks was evaluated. Operating conditions that allow the maintenance of productive cultures were established under semicontinuous regime for 9 months throughout the year. Biomass and lutein yields in the open system were not far from those in closed tubular photobioreactors, and reached productivity values of 20 g dry biomass, containing around 100 mg lutein m−2 day−1 in summer. The outdoor culture of Muriellopsis sp. in open ponds thus represents a real alternative to established systems for the production of lutein.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Plan Nacional, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (grant nos. PPQ2001-3832-C02-01 and BIO2004-05834-C02-02, cofinanced with FEDER funds from EU), IFAPA (CO3-125), and Plan Andaluz de Investigación (group no. CVI131), Spain.

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  1. Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Américo Vespucio 49, Sevilla, 41092, Spain

    Antonio M. Blanco, José Moreno, José A. Del Campo, Joaquín Rivas & Miguel G. Guerrero

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  1. Antonio M. Blanco
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  2. José Moreno
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  3. José A. Del Campo
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  4. Joaquín Rivas
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  5. Miguel G. Guerrero
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Correspondence to Miguel G. Guerrero.

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Blanco, A.M., Moreno, J., Del Campo, J.A. et al. Outdoor cultivation of lutein-rich cells of Muriellopsis sp. in open ponds. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 73, 1259–1266 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-006-0598-9

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