Pigment Production under Cold Stress in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Microalgae have long been used for the commercial production of natural colorants such as carotenoids and chlorophyll. Due to rising demand other products from microalgae, strategies increase efficiency are urgently needed. The microalgal biorefineries has limited countries with moderate climates. For cooler climates less daylight, methodologies efficient need be investigated. Algal strains that can safely consumed whole cells also attractive alternatives developing carotenoid supplements, which contain compounds health benefits. Using helps eliminate hazardous solvents extraction several complicated steps. In this study, mesophilic green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was employed study effects cold stress on cell physiology pigments storage compounds. results showed temperatures between 10 20 °C induced chlorophyll accumulation in wild-type strain C. reinhardtii. Interestingly, increased level suggested they might play a crucial role acclimation. A temperature 15 resulted highest productivity. At temperature, productivity 2 times 1.3 higher than at 25 °C, respectively. Subjecting mutant defective lutein zeaxanthin revealed these two not essential survival. Therefore, could strategy induce