Effect of light level and salinity on the composition and accumulation of free and ester-type carotenoids in the aerial microalga Scenedesmus sp. (Chlorophyceae)

Composition and accumulation of stress-induced carotenoids were characterized in the aerial microalga Scenedesmus sp. KGU-Y002. The specific growth rate was 0.27 d− 1, in the logarithmic growth phase. Nitrate starvation and varying light levels were applied to determine the effect of stress on the carotenogenesis of the algal cells. Under 200 μmol photons m− 2 s− 1, the alga accumulated 34.2 ± 3.8 mg g− 1 dry weight cells (dwc) of total...