The effects of the climate conditions in Cukurova on the phycocyanin pigments of Spirulina platensis (Cyanophyta)

In Cukurova region, the experiments were carried out in the fiber-glass ponds in the greenhouse during the months of april, july and september in order to determine the effect of seasonal temperature and light intensity on the blue pigment C-phycocyanin and protein content of Spirulina platensis. C-phycocyanin contents were found to be 329.91±0.029 , 326.75±0.016 ve 332.71±0.021 µg/ml, respectively. The water temperature of July, 34.52±0.60 ºC, was found to be higher than the temperatures of autumn (30.03±0.43) and spring (24.87±0.74 ºC). The light intensity of July (1195.08±92.04 µmol m-2 s-1) was also found to be higher than the light intensity of September and April (822.46±57.48 and 684.40±103.89 µmol m-2 s-1). The protein ratios were found as 68% and 68%,72% for spring summer and autumn, respectively. In the study, it was concluded that there is no differences amongs the months of April July and September about the rate, phycocyanin and protein contents of the Spirulina platensis cultures.