Effects of the environmental factors on the productivity, protein amount and amino acid composition of spirulina platensis in greenhouse canditions

ABSTRACT MSc THESIS EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY, PROTEIN AMOUNT AND AMINO ACH) COMPOSITION OF SPIRULINA PLATENSIS IN GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS LEYLA HIZARCI DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES INSTITUTE OF NATURAL APPLD3D SCONCE UNIVERSITY OF ÇUKUROVA Supervisor : Asst. Prof. Dr. Oya IŞIK Year 2004, Page: 56 Jury : Asst. Prof. Dr. Oya IŞIK Prof. Dr. Ercan SARIHAN Prof. Dr. Şevket GÖKPINAR Outdoor culture experiments has been done in January-February and July in Çukurova. It has been done in the fiber-glass ponds which size are 1x5x0.20 m and in the greenhouse to determine the factors of temperature and light on productivity, protein ratio and amino acid content of Spirulina platensis. The maximal water temperatures of night and day were 17.17+0.07 and 24.28±0.1 °C and the minimal values were 10.42±0.02 and 11.67±0.04 °C in winter. In the summer, the maximal water temperature was 30.9±0.07 °C. In ponds maximum oxygen concentration was 41.6±0.9 mgL"1 in winter and 35.77+0.6 mgL"1 was recorded in summer. In the culture period of winter and summer, 0.36±0.01 g (dry weight)/L and 1.375+0.006 g (dry weight)/L Spirulina has been obtained. The protein contents of Spirulina cultivated in winter were found 27% and in summer 46% dry weight. It was determined that temperature, light and O2 concentration affected the biomass, protein ratio and amino acid composition of Spirulina. In Çukurova where has a subtropic climate, the night and day temperatures are close to each other and cloudiness is unfavourable for culturing of Spirulina. In spite of this conditions, the productivity and bio-chemical quality of Spirulina can be increased by taking precautions. Keywords: Spirulina platensis, outdoor culture, temperature, light II