Season variability of iron effects on periodic culture of microalgae Dunaliella viridis Teod.

Effects of different iron concentrations (final concentrations of iron in Artari’s medium: 3.7, 37.0, 74.0, and 185.0 mmol·L⁻¹) on growth rate and contents of protein, triacylglycerides, and β-carotene in Dunaliella viridis cells at cultivation in different months were investigated. It was shown that the dose-dependent effects of iron were notable for season variability. In the 1^st experimental series (October, 2007), iron at researched concentrations did not affect growth rate of culture and protein, triacylglyceride, and β-carotene contents in cells. In experimental series conducted respectively in November 2007, December 2007, and February 2008, the dose-dependent stimulation of microalgae growth was observed. For each of these experimental series, there were particular dose dependences of protein, triacylglyceride, and β-carotene contents in microalgae cells at cultivation on media with iron at different concentrations. Meanwhile, for all of the four experimental series conducted in different months, variability of growth rate and analyzed parameters of microalgae Dunaliella viridis as control (cultivation without iron) was shown. It is suggested that these functional differences of control cultures of microalgae in different months caused variability in the dose-dependent effects of iron in a Dunaliella viridis culture. The possibility of iron usage for increasing microalgae biomass and for enriching it by β-carotene in Dunaliella viridis culture with initial low productivity and low β-carotene content is considered.