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Riboflavin content of six species of microalgae used in mariculture

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Abstract

Concentrations of riboflavin — a vitamin essential for maricultured animals—were measured in six species of microalgae commonly used in mariculture. These were two diatoms (Chaetoceros gracilis, Thalassiosira pseudonana); two prymnesiophytes (Isochrysis sp. (clone T.ISO),Pavlova lutheri); one chlorophyte (Nannochloris atomus) and one eustigmatophyte (Nannochloropsis oculata). Cultures were analysed during both logarithmic and stationary growth phase.

The proportions of riboflavin (µg g-1 dry weight) during logarithmic growth-phase ranged from 20 (T. pseudonana) to 40 µg g-1 (Isochrysis sp. T.ISO). With the onset of stationary phase, the proportion of riboflavin increased in all species; the increase was most dramatic in cultures ofC. gracilis, T. pseudonana andN. atomus (2- to 3-fold).Chaetoceros gracilis contained more riboflavin (106 µg g-1) than all other species (48 to 61 µ g-1).

Despite the differences in the composition of the different microalgae, across both logarithmic and stationary growth-phases, all species should provide a rich source of riboflavin for maricultured animals.

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  1. Christine L. Farmer

    Present address: University of Tasmania, Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, GPO Box 252C, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Fisheries, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    Malcolm R. Brown & Christine L. Farmer

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  1. Malcolm R. Brown
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Brown, M.R., Farmer, C.L. Riboflavin content of six species of microalgae used in mariculture. J Appl Phycol 6, 61–65 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185905

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185905

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