Resumen

MUNOZ-PENUELA, Marcela et al. Effect of culture medium on growth and protein content of Chlorella vulgaris. Rev Colom Cienc Pecua [online]. 2012, vol.25, n.3, pp.438-449. ISSN 0120-0690.

The use of live food in larviculture and fingerling stages has become an excellent option in pisciculture to reduce mortality and production costs. Live food is cost-effective, nutritious, and it has enzymes necessary for fish development. Objective: this study evaluated the effect of several culture media (chu₁₀ , NPK complex fertilizer, worm humus, and equine manure) on growth and protein content of Chlorella vulgaris. Methods: 3 L volumes with constant light and aeration were used for algae culture. Six replicates were used per each treatment. One mL of C. vulgaris was added to each experimental unit to obtain 8.3 x 10⁶ cel/mL as initial density. Algae counts were conducted every two days using the Neubauer chamber to determine cell density, parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, and phosphates were measured. Crude protein was determined with the Kjeldahl method. The assay lasted 82 days. Results: microalgae reached the highest density with complex fertilizer NPK (10.9 ± 1.6 x 10⁶ cel/mL) on day 22, followed by worm humus (5.3 ± 1.1 x 10⁶ cel/mL) on day 48, equine manure (4.9 ± 0.9 x 10⁶ cel/mL) on day 18, and the last was chu₁₀ (2.2 ± 0.6 x 10⁶ cel/mL) on day 12. The highest protein content was found in algae grown in worm humus (56.8%), and the equine manure (32.5%), in contrast, complex fertilizer NPK had the lowest value (16.8%). Conclusion: this study showed that organic media are a good choice for the culture of C. vulgaris, providing proper growth and high protein content of microalgae.

Palabras clave : live food; microalgae; nutrients; nutritional value; worm humus.

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