FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF SPIRULINA-PLATENSIS AS RELATED TO THE AGE AND MINERAL-NUTRITION OF THE CULTURE

The composition of lipid fatty acids (LFA) in algal cells and of free fatty acids (FFA) in the algal culture medium was investigated using a batch culture of Spirulina platensis (Nordst) Geitl. The changes in F FA composition in the culture medium were in accordance with the cultu re-growth phases (linear or stationary) and growth limitation cause by the deficiency of several mineral nutrients. The FFA composition of t he culture medium significantly differed from the LFA composition of a lgae in the predominance of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Possible mechanisms of FFA release from the cells into the external m edium are discussed.