Influence of environmental factors on accessory pigments of Nostoc muscorum

Nostoc muscorum is a reddish brown cyanobacterium with high phycoerythrin content. Attempts were made to study the influence of environmental factors on the production of phycobiliproteins and carotenoids. Total phycobiliproteins increased when the culture was grown at 30°C and with 10 mL air s⁻¹ L⁻¹ while the carotenoids content reached maximum with 20 mL air s⁻¹ L⁻¹ medium. Low intensity of light (1 kLux) favoured maximum phycobiliprotein production, while maximum carotenoids were produced at high light intensity (13–28 kLux). The organism showed complementary chromatic adaptation.