Evaluation of Lab Scale Cultivation of Spirulina Using Different Substrates and its Nutritional Analysis

Spirulina is a multicellular, filamentous cyanobacterium with the ability to colonize environments that are unsuitable for many other organisms.It forms populations in freshwater and brackish lakes, as well as some marine environments, primarily alkaline saline lakes.Spirulina contains a high content of protein (up to 70%), along with high amounts of essential fatty acids, essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins (especially B12), antioxidant pigments (phycobiliproteins and carotenoids) and polysaccharides.Spirulina mainly grow in highly alkaline water.Lonar Lake is considered as the largest source of alkaline water in India so the water from Lonar Lake was used to isolate Spirulina.The isolation was carried out in Zarrouk's media.It is specific media used for the growth of Spirulina.Spirulina requires light and cold condition for proper growth so these conditions were maintained during the growth.The media was inoculated with the water sample and kept for incubation at 22C for over 15 days.The media was also supplemented with some trace metals for good yield.After incubation period the media was observed under microscope to confirm the Spirulina was isolated.After the isolation was successful Spirulina was cultivated by using various substrates such as cow urine, cheese whey, tap water etc.The substrate were added in the media and the media was inoculated with isolated culture of Spirulina .The media was kept for incubation in similar conditions used during isolation.After 15 days the sample were studied for their protein content, carbohydrate content.