Nitrogen Deficiency Maximizes The Production And Accumulation Of Beta-Carotene Via Induction Of Different Macromolecule Derivatives In Dunaliella Salina (Dunal) Teodoresco

THIS STUDY aims at investigating the effects of nitrogen deficiency and NaCl stress on beta-carotene production and growth of Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teodoresco. D. salina was exposed to different levels of N: 2.5, 4.9, 7.4 and 9.9mM KNO3 or Na+: 1.3, 1.7, 2.6, 3.4 and 4.3M NaCl. beta-carotene production and accumulation were significantly better in nitrogen deficiency-treated D. salina than that in NaCl-treated cells, with a maximum increase of 5.5mg g DW-1 at 2.5mM KNO3. Algal growth, in terms of cell number and the relative growth rate (RGR), was increased with the increase in the availability of nitrogen but decreased by NaCl stress. In contrast, the production of beta-carotene by D. salina was enhanced under nitrogen deficiency and excessive salinity, suggesting the opposite effect of nitrogen availability and stressful NaCl on the production and accumulation of beta-carotene concomitant with the inhibition of algal growth. GC analysis confirmed that nitrogen deficiency-treated D. salina accumulates beta-carotene higher than untreated cells (control), suggesting the great potential of nitrogen deficiency-treated D. salina to produce different beta-carotene macromolecule derivatives compared to those in the control. Such different hydrocarbons could be converted into safe beta-carotene. Therefore, D. salina could be used as a reliable biological system for beta-carotene production. The study recommended cultivating D. salina under low salinity to obtain D. salina cells, but high salinity to obtain their beta-carotene.