Scenedesmus microscopically, the green alga Scenedesmus
These Scenedesmus entrapped in alginate beads were kept in the dark and survived for up to three years without adding any culture medium, and maintained their normal physiological activity. When these alginate beads were re-cultured in liquid culture for 4 weeks, their number increased about 40-fold. After the embedded Scenedesmus was preserved for a long time, under the observation of the electron microscope, it was found that their organelles and protein nuclei disappeared.
However, when these Scenedesmus species were re-grown in liquid culture with light, they reconstituted their pyrenoids. These results suggest that long-term storage of Scenedesmus survives by consuming the starch sheath on the protein core. The concentration of ammonia nitrogen in the water quality of the fish culture group containing Scenedesmus beads decreased significantly. Therefore, microalgae immobilized on alginate beads, especially Scenedesmus species, can be used for long-term preservation of microalgae species in the laboratory, and can be used as water quality control for fish farming.
