FORMULATION OF A COST-EFFECTIVE MEDIUM TO SUPPORT HIGH BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND IMPROVED AMINO ACID PROFILE OF ARTHROSPIRA PLATENSIS

Abstract

Arthrospiraplatensis is a WHO recognized super food. However, it is not extensively commercialized due to the high cost associated with its cultivation media. This study was designed to devise a cost effective media for the culturing of A. platensis. Standard Zarouk’s media (ZK) was used a reference media for nutrient composition to formulate six cost effective cultivation media (XR-1-XR- 6). Growth of A. platensis was analyzed on the basis of cell count, growth percentages and biomass production. Amino acid contents were determined through Amino Acid Analyzer. Growth of A. platensis cultivated in XR-1 and XR-3 media was observed comparable with ZK in terms of cell count and spiral structure The XR-3 medium formulated in this study was found to produce improved percent growth rate and amino acid content when compared with A. platensis cells grown in
conventionally used Zarouk’s medium.