A culture medium for enhancement of phycobiliproteins in Porphyridium species

Porphyridium is a unicellular red microalgae preferably grows in autotrophic conditions. It is unique in producing phycobiliproteins consisting of red coloured phycoerythrin and blue coloured phycocyanin, polyunsaturated fatty acids consisting of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids and extracellular sulphated polysaccharide of antiviral activity. Inspite of its potential for multiple high value metabolites, there are no commercial production plants owing to its slow growth and high salt strength medium. The present invention developed a culture medium where the rate of Porphyridium growth considerably high the hastened the pigment production significantly. The cost of production is considerably less and the salt strength in the developed culture medium is less and this would facilitate its cultivation in out door conditions.