Non-motile cell development and astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis under different light spectra

Light plays a crucial role in influencing the growth of Haematococcus pluvialis and its production of astaxanthin.Previous studies have shown that non-motile cells of H. pluvialis exhibit higher light tolerance compared to motile cells, and cultivating non-motile cells as the predominant cell type in the red stage can significantly enhance overall astaxanthin productivity.However, despite some progress has been made in inducing the formation of nonmotile cells through high light intensity, the specific light spectra responsible for inducing both non-motile cells formation and astaxanthin accumulation remain largely unknown.In this study, we explored the impact of three different light spectra on the formation of non-motile cells, cellular morphology, pigment composition, and chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in the green stage of H. pluvialis.Additionally, we assessed the astaxanthin accumulation, dry weight, mortality rate, and cyst diameter during the induction period.The results indicate that light spectra had a significant impact on the growth and development as well as physiological processes of H. pluvialis cells.Compared to red and white light, blue light proves more conducive to promoting non-motile cells formation and enhancing astaxanthin accumulation.The findings make a significant contribution to the development of optimized method for cultivating H. pluvialis and enhancing astaxanthin productivity in factory settings.