Correlation between lipid and carotenoid synthesis and photosynthetic capacity in Haematococcus pluvialis grown under high light and nitrogen deprivation stress

Recently, H. pluvialis has been demonstrated to have significant potential for biofuel production. To explore the correlation between total lipid content and other physiological parameters under s tress conditions, the responses of H. pluvialis to high light intensity (HL), nitrogen deprivation (-N), and high light intensity with nitrogen deprivation (HL-N) were investigated. The total lipid content in the control cells was 12.01% dw, whereas that of the cells exposed to HL, -N, and HL-N conditions was 56.92, 46.71, and 46.87% dw, respectively. The fatty acid profile was similar under all conditions, with the main components including palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid. A good correlation was found between individual carotenoid and total lipids, regardless of culture conditions. P hotosynthetic parameters and lipid content were also found to be well-correlated.