Abstract:
Water samples from ten locations in and around Karachi were screened for micro algae. Chlorella, Chlamydomonas, Chlorococcum, Oocystic, Scenedesmus, Monoraphidium, Phoromidium, Oscillatoria, Nostoc, Lyngya, Spirulina and Anabaena were found to be abundant in these waters. Forty-four genera were observed from these locations. Thirty algal strains were isolated and brought to axenia state.
Growth of Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus dimorphus and Scenedesmus bijuga were studied in modified Kessler’s medium. The effect of the deficiency of various constituents of the medium were also investigated. Attempts were made to devise a cheap medium using urea, super phosphate and soil extract for the growth of unicellular algae.
Moisture, fat, crude fibre, total carbohydrate, total nitrogen, protein, amino acids, nucleic acids, vitamins (riboflavin), and minerals (Na, K, Ca) were determined qualitatively in Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Oscillatoria tenuis Chlorococcum humicola and Spirulina.
Nutritive values (digestibility, biological value and chemical score) of Chlorella Vulgaris and Scenedesmus dimorphous show that these species could be exploited as a valuable source of cheap proteins.
