Kharchuk I. Anhydrobiosis as a way for preserving the vitality of microalgae

Subject: Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis (Nordst.) Geitler, Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teod, Porphyridium cruentum Naeg, Synechococcus elongatus Nageli, Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin . Aim: Research anhydrobiosis at microalgae and development of a method of their long storage in a viable condition. Proposes a method that permits to preserve microalgae for long time spans without using a nutritive medium – the dehydrated microalgae stay viable for long. The procedure entails anhydrobiosis, storage and reactivation, i.e., restoration of the cells to active culture. Analysis of the morphometric and biochemical characteristics under anhydrobiosis and reactivation has clarified the essential conditions of microalgal de- and rehydration. Under dehydration the optimum temperature range is from 30 to 60°С, higher temperature triggers irreversible changes in the cell. The rehydration requires solutions of media (1:1) with the temperatures from 25 to 30°С and the light of about 2 kLx. The reported investigation has elicited relationship between culture viability and residual moisture with the optimums specified for Spirulina platensis, Synechococcus elongates and Phaeodactylum tricornutum as 9–11, 8–11 and 12–14%, respectively.