GROWTH CHARACTERISATION, PIGMENTS, TOTAL PROTEIN, CARBOHYDRATE AND LIPID CONTENT IN Cryptomonas sp. AND Guinardia sp. ISOLATED FROM COASTAL REGION OF BANGLADESH

Microalgae reproducers of different pigments and nutritional components with nutritional and medicinal value. Best-performing local microalgae should be isolated as they adapt well to the local environment. Therefore, to select the best-performing local strains to utilise them effectively, Cryptomonas sp. and Guinardia sp. were chosen in this study to determine their growth, pigments, and proximate composition. Growth data were collected using cell and optical densities, then mass cultured in commercial Conway medium and harvested at their early stationary phase. Results showed that the onset of the stationary phase (11-12 days) varied between the species. Cryptomonas sp. showed significantly higher (p ˂ 0.05) chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid content than Guinardia sp. The phycobiliprotein (2.38 ± 0.03 mg/g) and lipid (28.5 ± 0.67 % dry weight) content in Guinardia sp. was significantly higher (p ˂ 0.05) than Cryptomonas sp. On the other hand, Cryptomonas sp. showed significantly (p ˂ 0.05) higher protein (23.91 ± 0.39 % dry weight), carbohydrate (18.7 ± 0.79 % dry weight), volumetric productivity, areal productivity, and SGR than Guinardia sp. Current results could contribute to utilising these two species for different purposes, such as aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals industries, as they contain some valuable components.