High subzero temperature preservation of Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira fusiformis) and its Ultrastucture

• Main Authors: Motham M., Peerapornpisal Y., Tongsriri S., Pumas C., Vacharapiyasophon P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84869010723&partnerID=40&md5=a95b20cab514f5fefac1aa5ed789aea7; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/6966
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

The high subzero preservation of Spirulina: S. platensis CMU2 and S. platensis GD1 was performed by step wise freezing at 25, 4, and -20°C for 30 min. Then they were preserved at -80°C for seven months with four cryoprotectants: dimethyl sulfoxide, horse serum, calf serum and glycerol. The viability of these two strains and cell concentration was not significantly different (p>0.05). The survival of S. platensis depended on type and concentration of cryoprotectant and thawing temperature. The best condition for high subzero preservation was obtained by using 5% glycerol as cryoprotectant and rapid thawing at 40°C. After high subzero preservation, their ultrastructure such as cell wall, thylakoid and nucleoplasmic region were changed but cryoprotectant helped to protect these important organelles from freeze-induced damage.