Polyploid Induction Enhance Pigment Production in Nannochoropsis oculata: A study using a mutagenesis agent.

Abstract Directed mutagenesis by chemical induction using a mutagenesis agent to induce polyploidy on Nannochloropsis oculata can be an option to get higher biomass production of this microalgae. The aim of this research is to investigate the increase of biomass, pigment and DNA content of this microalgae after polyploid induction using a mutagenesis agent, colchicine. This microalgae induced with colchicine at a concentration of 0; 10; 100; 1,000 and 10,000 mg L-1 for 24, 48, and 72 hours for preliminary study. Further investigation using 48 hours treatment because it gives significant increase of biomass and pigment. The microalgae cultivated in sterilized seawater under constant light and aeration. A groups of 10 mg L-1 colchicine with 48 hour incubation showed significant increase of cell size and DNA content, but not in pigment. This groups might have an increase in another cell component, i.e. lipid. A groups of 1.000 mg L-1 colchicine induction for 48 hours, showed an increase in biomass and pigment production. So that, the use of 10 mg L-1 colchicine induction for 48 hours can increase the cell and genome size of N. oculata while a concentration of 1,000 mg L-1 did not increased genome size but increase the pigment and biomass production.