Effect of ferric chloride (FeCl3) concentration on pigment production of Porphyridium Cruentum

Microalgae are unicellular organisms with different shapes and sizes. Wide range of biomolecules (protein, fatty acids, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, etc.) could be produced and accumulated by these organisms. P. cruentum is known as a source of high-value biomolecules named phycobiliproteins. These pigments used in various areas such as food, cosmetics, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, the effect of ferric chloride (FeCl3 ) concentration (0.234 × 10-5 – 1.17 × 10-5 M) in F/2 medium on growth and pigment composition of P. cruentum was investigated. Using the 0.585 × 10-5 M of FeCl3 (group C) provides higher cell number than other concentrations on P. cruentum culture (P<0.05). The 0.234 × 10-5 FeCl3 was provided the highest phycoerythrin production while the highest cellular phycoerythrin accumulation was obtained with 5.85 × 10-5 FeCl3 concentration. It was found that pigment accumulation was induced by low and high concentrations of ferric chloride. As a result of this study, it was concluded that the ferric chloride could be used as a promoter for pigment accumulation in P. cruentum biomass.