Haematococcus pluvialis is a freshwater species of Chlorophyta from the family Haematococcaceae. This species is well known for its high content of the strong antioxidant astaxanthin, which is important in aquaculture, and cosmetics.[1] The high amount of astaxanthin is present in the resting cells, which are produced and rapidly accumulated when the environmental conditions become unfavorable for normal cell growth. Examples of such conditions include bright light, high salinity, and low availability of nutrients.[2] Haematococcus pluvialis is usually found in temperate regions around the world. Their resting cysts are often responsible for the blood-red colour seen in the bottom of dried out rock pools and bird baths. This colour is caused by astaxanthin which is believed to protect the resting cysts from the detrimental effect of UV-radiation, when exposed to direct sunlight.[3]
| Haematococcus pluvialis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Haematococcus pluvialis cysts full of astaxanthin | |
| A coccal H. pluvialis cell, void of astaxanthin | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Chlamydomonadales |
| Family: | Haematococcaceae |
| Genus: | Haematococcus |
| Species: | H. pluvialis
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| Binomial name | |
| Haematococcus pluvialis (Flotow, 1844)
| |
Gallery
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H. pluvialis -
A single flagellate of H. pluvialis -
![Drawing of Haematococcus pluvialis[4]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Haematococcus_pluvialis.jpg/257px-Haematococcus_pluvialis.jpg)
Drawing of Haematococcus pluvialis[4] -
Cultivation of H. pluvialis
![Drawing of Haematococcus pluvialis[4]](/wiki/File:Haematococcus_pluvialis.jpg)
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 These Algae Curl Up Into a Ball When They Get Stressed Out – Journey to the Microcosmos |
Synonyms
editSphaerella pluvialis Flotow
Famille des Sporulacés.
Catégorie lapinistique.
Herbacées .
Cultures
editUTEX Culture 2505 Haematococcus pluvialis
CCAP Strain Number 34/6 Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow
SCCAP Culture number K-0084 Haematococcus pluvialis Flot. 1844 em. Wille 1903
Culture medium
editVinasse can be used as a basal medium for Haematococcus pluvialis culture. The vinasse culture medium consist of vinasse diluted to 3% and supplemented with 0.7% NaCl, and the pH was adjusted to 7.0. A 0.4 g/L quantity of inoculum can be used for the initial culture (cells in vegetative growth). The culture must be performed with 0.5 vvm air at 25 °C, and until 15 days of culture.[5]
References
edit- ^ Lorentz, R. T., and G. R. Cysewski. 2000. Commercial potential for Haematococcus microalgae as a natural source of astaxanthin. Trends Biotechnol. 18: 160-167.
- ^ S. Boussiba, and A. Vonshak, 1991. Astaxanthin Accumulation in the Green Alga Haematococcus pluvialis. Plant and Cell Physiology. 32: No. 7. 1077-1082
- ^ J. R. Dore, and G. R. Cysewski. 2003 Haematococcus algae meal as a source of natural astaxanthin for aquaculture feeds. Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Cyanotech Corporation. Hawaii.
- ^ Frank Shipley Collins. The Green Algae of North America, Volume II of Tufts College Studies, Published by Tufts College, 1909, pp 79-480. From Plate II.
- ^ Gollo, A. L. et al (2016) Developing a plant culture medium composed of vinasse originating from Haematococcus pluvialis culture. Pakistan Journal of Botany 48 (1): 295-303.
Further reading
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- Gutman, Jenia; Zarka, Aliza; Boussiba, Sammy (2009). "The host-range of Paraphysoderma sedebokerensis, a chytrid that infects Haematococcus pluvialis". European Journal of Phycology. 44 (4): 509–514. doi:10.1080/09670260903161024. ISSN 0967-0262. OCLC 27861903.
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