Optimum culture conditions of Rhodomonas sp. Hf-1 strain as a live food for aquatic animals

Suitable culture conditions for Rhodomonas sp. Hf-1 strain were examined for high productivity. Hf-1 strain was grown in an incubator for 7 days. The factorial experimental design investigated the following 19 variables: temperature (12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 °C), salinity (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 psu), light intensity (20, 35, 50, 65 and 80 μmol m−2 s−1), light color (white, red, green and blue lights), and 3 factorial designs of photoperiod (24L:0D, 16L:8D and 12L:12D light:dark cycle). The cell density and specific growth rates (SGR) were analyzed. The best cell growth was observed under the following culture conditions: temperature of 24 °C, salinity of 21 psu, light intensity of 80 μmol m−2 s−1, and white light. In the photoperiod test, the highest cell density of 4.7 × 106 cells ml−1 was obtained at 24L:0D light:dark cycle, and the SGR was 0.57 μ day−1 at this time. We found that the Hf-1 strain was able to be cultured in extremely wide culture conditions. These results are expected to serve as a baseline study for culturing the Hf-1 strain in the laboratory and for its use in aquaculture.