Effects of oxygen scavengers (Sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium dithionite, and sodium metabisulfite) on growth and accumulation of biomass in the green alga Asterarcys quadricellulare

Abstract

The present investigation aims to know the effects of oxygen scavengers such as sodium sulfite (Na 2 SO 3 ), sodium bisulfite (NaHSO 3 ), sodium dithionite (Na 2 S 2 O 4 ), and sodium metabisulfite (Na 2 S 2 O 5 ) on growth and accumulation of biomass (chlorophylls) in green alga Asterarcys quadricellulare ( A. quadricellulare ). Alga is grown in tris-acetate-phosphate (TAP) medium, along with various concentrations of NaHSO 3 , Na 2 SO 3 , Na 2 S 2 O 4 , and Na 2 S 2 O 5 individually under in vitro conditions. To evaluate the effects of scavengers, in vitro grown algal cells were used to estimate the chlorophyll a and b, along with total chlorophylls. Augmented growth and total chlorophyll content (63.23 mg/L) was noticed in A. quadricellulare cultures grown in TAP with 3.2 mM of sodium sulfite medium. TAP with 0.4 mM sodium bisulfite medium enhanced the growth and total chlorophyll content (49.38 mg/L) in this alga. Similarly, improved growth and total chlorophyll content (44.46 mg/L) was observed in A. quadricellulare grown in TAP with 0.4 mM of sodium dithionite medium. TAP with 0.08 mM sodium metabisulfite medium augmented the growth and total chlorophyll content (41.01 mg/L) in this alga. Higher doses of scavengers inhibit the growth and reduced the total chlorophyll contents in A. quadricellulare . The present work will be helpful to standardize the oxygen scavenger resistance levels in various algal species for anaerobic experiments including in vitro production of hydrogen.