Effect of culturing parameters on the vegetative growth of Haematococcus alpinus (strain lcr‐cc‐261f) and modelling of its growth kinetics

: The present study investigated the effect of different culture conditions on the vegetative growth of a new species, Haematococcus alpinus (strain LCR-CC-261f) using airlift photobioreactors. The influence of culture medium, aeration rates, CO2 concentration in air-gas mixture, temperature, light intensities, and wavelengths were investigated to achieve sustainable high cell density cultures. Growth parameters were determined by fitting the data to a form of the logistic equation that included a lag phase. The shear-sensitive vegetative cells favored lower aeration rates in the photobioreactors. MLA medium increased to 40 mM nitrate produced high density cultures. Temperatures between 12°C and 18°C, 3% (v/v) CO2 concentration and a narrow photon flux density ranging between 37 and 48 μmol photons · m-2  · s-1 were best suited for growth. The wavelength of the light source also impacted growth and a high cell density of 9.6 × 105 cells · mL-1 was achieved using a mixture of red and blue compared to warm white, red, or blue LEDs.