Vegetos

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are specific group of photoautotrophs representing a potential source of various pigments such as phycobiliproteins, carotenoids and chlorophylls. These pigments are extensively used commercially in foods, cosmetics, biotechnology, pharmacology and medicine. Six cyanobacterial strains belonging to two genera (Desertifilum and Haloleptolyngbya) from extreme habitats (biological crust and soda lake) were investigated for pigment profiling and UV absorbing compounds under normal fluorescence light. The highest content of phycocyanin was found in the strain Desertifilum tharense PD2001/4, while maximum chlorophyll a and carotenoids was measured in Desertifilum tharense PD2001/14. It is revealed from present study that the qualitative and quantitative content of pigments depend on cyanobacterial strain to strain. A single peak was also observed in UV range (339 nm) in pigment spectra of all investigated cyanobacterial strains under normal fluorescence light which shows potential of these strains to produce photoprotective compounds.