Influence of Different Light Sources on the Biochemical Composition of <i>Arthrospira</i> spp. Grown in Model Systems
Massimo Milia,
Francesco Corrias,
Piero Addis,
Graziella Chini Zitelli,
Bernardo Cicchi,
Giuseppe Torzillo,
Valeria Andreotti,
Alberto Angioni
Affiliations
Massimo Milia
Food Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University of Cagliari, University Campus of Monserrato, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Francesco Corrias
Food Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University of Cagliari, University Campus of Monserrato, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Piero Addis
Biology Section, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University of Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 2, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
Graziella Chini Zitelli
CNR—Istituto per la Bioeconomia, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
Bernardo Cicchi
CNR—Istituto per la Bioeconomia, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
Giuseppe Torzillo
CNR—Istituto per la Bioeconomia, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
Valeria Andreotti
Food Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University of Cagliari, University Campus of Monserrato, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Alberto Angioni
Food Toxicology Unit, Department of Life and Environmental Science, University of Cagliari, University Campus of Monserrato, SS 554, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima are prokaryotic microalgae commercially marketed as spirulina. The pigments extracted from these algae are widely used for cosmetic and nutraceutical applications. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of three light-emitting lamps (white, orange and blue) on the growth and biomass composition of two strains of A. platensis (M2 and M2M) and one of A. maxima. The obtained data show strain- and light-dependent responses of the microalgae. In addition, white and orange lights led to a similar overall effect by increasing the levels of chlorophyll a and carotenoids. However, exposure to orange light resulted in the highest dry weight (5973.3 mg L−1 in M2M), whereas white light stimulated an increase in the carbohydrate fraction (up to 42.36 g 100 g−1 in A. maxima). Conversely, blue light led to a constant increase in the concentration of phycocyanin (14 g 100 g−1 in A. maxima) and a higher content of proteins in all strains. These results provide important environmental information for modulating the growth of different spirulina strains, which can be used to address the synthesis of biochemical compounds of strategic importance for the development of new nutraceutical foods.
