In vitro Culturing and Biochemical properties of Green and Blue-Green Algae in the Laterite soil Thomas Binoy T.*, Bhagya M. V., Mol S. T. Saranya, Rajan Reshma Phycotechnology Laboratory Department of Botany, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala *Corresponding author: Phycotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala. Email: bttkripa@gmail.com
Online published on 11 January, 2019. Abstract In vitro culturing and biochemical properties of six green and five blue-green algae from the laterite soils of Pathanamthitta District, Kerala have been studied. During the study physico-chemical characteristics viz. pH, Total Soluble Salt (TSS), Organic Carbon (C), available Phosphorous (P) and available Potassium (K) were investigated. Among them, pH was one of the major influencing factors in distribution of soil algae. BG11 and Pringsheims were the effective nutrient medium for the growth of blue-green and green algae respectively. In total eleven soil algae were observed from the tropical soil by an in vitro culture method. Population of these algae were enumerated. Biochemical analysis such as chlorophyll, carotenoids and hydrocarbon were estimated. Green and blue-green algae had an equal rate of chlorophyll a and hydrocarbon. Total chlorophyll and chlorophyll b was highest in green algae and least in blue-green algae. However carotenoids were highest in blue-green algae and lowest in green algae. The present investigation proposed that exploration of algae from the soil would be worthy; because bioactive compounds from them can be harnessed for commercial use. Top Keywords Laterite soil, Green Algae, Blue-Green Algae, Bioactive compounds. Top |