Influence of mineral medium components - calcium, phosphorus and potasium - on carotenoid biosynthesis in the alga Scenedesmus acuminatus

Abstract

From the alga Scenedesmus acuminatus 10 carotenoids were isolated: α-carotene, β-carotene, neo-β-carotene, lutein, lutein-5,6-epoxide, violaxanthine, loroxanthine, neoxanthine, antheraxanthine and from old algae - echinenone. Algae cultured on calcium-free medium contained about 60 (per cent cartoenoids less than those from medium with Ca(NO3)2.